IITA Conference Documents

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    Seed propagation trends in Nigeria and Ghana
    (Abstract, 2023) Balogun, M.
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    Relative performance of old and newly released yam varieties in hydroponics system for seed yam production
    (Abstract, 2023) Balogun, M.; Ekundayo, M.; Ossai, C.; Jimoh, L.; Maroya, N.; Aighewi, B.; Mignouna, D.; Amele, A.; Legg, J.
    Rapid multiplication of improved yam varieties is crucial to enhance farmers’s access to seeds. Seed yam production has been enhanced using hydroponics system. However, reports on use of hydroponics have been for few improved genotypes released at least one decade ago. This study assessed the amenability of released / near-release yam genotypes to hydroponics substrates. Two weeks old Breeder seedlings of three released varieties of Dioscorea alata (Akuabata, VaYam and Wonder) and four genotypes of Dioscorea rotundata (Released: Kpamyo and Asiedu, and near-release: Danacha and Meccakusa) were planted in the following hydroponics susbtrates; Riversand, Riversand+Ashed Ricehusk (RS+AH: 3:1), Cocopeat, Cocopeat+Ashed Ricehusk (CP+ASH: 3:1) and Ash. Fertigation was daily with nutrient solution as described previously. Data were taken on the Number of Single Node Vine Cuttings (SNVC) f rom 18 stands at 2 Weeks after Planting (WAP), Percentage Vine Survival (PVS), Number of Nodes (NON) at 6WAP, Number of Tubers (NOT) and Tuber Weight (TW) g at harvest. Data were analysed using ANOVA , and means were separated using Least Signif icant Differences at P=0.05. The SNVC, PVS, NON, NOT and TW of the genotypes differed signif icantly and ranged from 220 (Wonder) to 596 (Asiedu), 33.8% (VaYam) to 95.4% (Danacha), 16.0±1.4 (Danacha) to 35.1±1.4 (Asiedu), 1.4±0.1 (Danacha) to 1.9±0.1 (Akuabata), and 16.6±2.6g (Wonder) to 40.3±2.6g (Asiedu), respectively. The substrate effect on SNVC, PVS, NON, NOT and TW ranged f rom 143 (CP+AH) to 577 (RS+AH), 42.7% (CP+AH) to 60.9% (Riversand), 4.33±1.1 (Ash) to 30.3±1.1 (RS+AH), 1.0±0.1 (Ash) to 2.1±0.1 (RS+AH), and 1.4±2.3g (Ash) to 50.3±2.3g (Riversand), respectively. Genotype by substrate interactions were also signif icant. Asiedu gave the highest vine production in the hydroponics system relative to the near release varieties, but the near-release varieties Danacha and Akuabata had higher vine survival rate and number of minitubers, respectively. The implications of these f findings in evolution of the formal yam seed system are discussed.
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    Prospects and challenges of emerging yam formal seed systems in West Africa
    (Abstract, 2023-10) Aighewi, B.; Aihebhoria, D.; Balogun, M.; Mignouna, D.
    Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a staple tuber crop produced in parts of tropical Af rica, the Caribbean, Oceania, and South Asia. Typically, the crop is grown in traditional systems where there are no dedicated seed producers and farmers use seed f rom informal sources. Recently, technologies developed at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria, were deployed to initiate formal yam seed systems in Nigeria and Ghana to enhance the availability of quality seed to millions of yam farmers in West Af rica. A study was conducted using a structured questionnaire to investigate how seed companies that engage in foundation and certified seed yam production were using the new technologies, and to assess the prospects for increasing the availability of quality seed through the formal seed system, as well as the challenges encountered. Results showed that seed companies were satisf ied using new technologies such as <10 g minitubers of improved varieties, compared to the 250 g seeds of landraces in informal production systems. They also use leaf-bud cuttings in hydroponic systems in screenhouses with up to 92% plant establishment, and 65% of the companies use locally available rice husk as a growth substrate. The improved practices used in screenhouses and f ields that are inspected and certified by the relevant quality control and certification agencies have great potential in enhancing the availability of quality seed yam. However, the aeroponic system was considered complicated and expensive, and not adopted despite the 95 to 97% plant survival in the system. Major challenges of the new system include limited knowledge on the storage requirement for 1 - 10 g foundation seeds and high storage losses (up to 38%) resulting from nematode infestation when seed was produced in the field. There is also an unwillingness by farmers to accept new varieties. In conclusion, the adoption of new technologies in the formal seed system with additional knowledge on storage and pest control will mitigate major bottlenecks in quality seed yam production and availability.
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    Varietal characteristics of cassava: farmers' perceptions and preferences in semiarid zone of west Africa
    (Conference Paper, 2003-09) Kormawa, P.; Tshiunza, M.; Dixon, A.; Udo, E.; Okoruwa, V.
    The study examines and models Farmers' perceptions and preferences of cassava· varietal characteristics vis-i-vis the decision ' to adopt cassava cultivars in their fields. The paper is built on the concept of the effect of technology-specific factors on adoption. By way of threshold decision modelling for each of the countries considered, the results reveal different scenario. Based on the varietal characteristics considered, environmental resistance quality (ERQ), high-yielding quality (HYQ), early maturing qualities (EMQ), leaf quality (LQ), inground storability quality (lSQ) and taste quality (TQ) have declining importance in the order of Iisting. As such, environmental resistance quality appears a major varietal characteristic that the farmers perceived and preferred for cultivating any cassava cultivar in the zone. The results, therefore, reinforce the relative importance of varietal characteristics in the choice and preference of cassava cultivars by farmers; it is, therefore, imperative for breeders to develop cultivars that will be acceptable to the farmers considering their level of preference and perceptions.
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    Banana bunchy top virus threat to African bananas
    (Conference Proceedings, 2022-09-07) Kumar, P. Lava
    The banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is threatening livelihoods and banana biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the first report in the 1960s, the virus has spread to 17 countries, eight of those in the last decade, including a recent spread in Uganda and Tanzania. In the "2022 International Plant Protection Convention Regional Workshop for Africa," organized by the FAO-IPPC, the African Union-Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU-IAPSC), the Plant Protection Organization of Kenya (KEPHIS), and FAO, the BBTV emergence in EA, along with other emerging threats in Africa, was discussed to strategies control actions. The event was held in a hybrid format from 6-8 Sep-2022 in Nairobi and was attended by 58 participants from 22 countries. The summary of BBTV status and recommendations for control was made through the presentation. It has led to the FAO allocation of emergency funds for BBTV management in EA through TCP (Technical Action Program) for 2023.
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    Direct planting versus transplanting of yam leaf-bud cuttings for seed production
    (Conference Paper, 2022-11) Aighewi, B.; Maroya, N.; Aihebhoria, D.; Balogun, M.; Mignouna, Djana B.; Asiedu, R.
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    Gene editing of banana for disease resistance
    (Conference Proceedings, 2022-10-08) Tripathi, L.
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    Prediction of root biomass in cassava based on ground penetrating radar phenomics
    (Journal Article, 2021-12-03) Agbona, A.; Teare, B.; Ruíz Guzman, H.; Dobreva, I.D.; Everett, M.E.; Adams,T.; Montesinos López, Osval A.; Kulakow, Peter A.; Hays, D.B.
    Cassava as a world food security crop still suffers from an inadequate means to measure early storage root bulking (ESRB), a trait that describes early maturity and a key characteristic of improved cassava varieties. The objective of this study is to evaluate the capability of ground penetrating radar (GPR) for non-destructive assessment of cassava root biomass. GPR was evaluated for this purpose in a field trial conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria. Different methods of processing the GPR radargram were tested, which included time slicing the radargram below the antenna surface in order to reduce ground clutter; to remove coherent sub-horizontal reflected energy; and having the diffracted energy tail collapsed into representative point of origin. GPR features were then extracted using Discrete Fourier Transformation (DFT), and Bayesian Ridge Regression (BRR) models were developed considering one, two and three-way interactions. Prediction accuracies based on Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and coefficient of determination (R2) were estimated by the linear regression of the predicted and observed root biomass. A simple model without interaction produced the best prediction accuracy of r = 0.64 and R2 = 0.41. Our results demonstrate that root biomass can be predicted using GPR and it is expected that the technology will be adopted by cassava breeding programs for selecting early stage root bulking during the crop growth season as a novel method to dramatically increase crop yield
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    Machine learning model accurately predict maize grain yields in conservation agriculture systems in southern Africa
    (Conference Paper, 2021-07) Muthoni, Francis K.; Thierfelder, Christian L.; Mudereri, B.T.; Manda, J.; Bekunda, Mateete A.; Hoeschle-Zeledon, Irmgard
    Adoption of CA in smallholder farmers in Africa is (s)low partly due to poor spatial targeting. Mapping the crop yield from different CA systems across space and time can reveal their spatial recommendation domains. Integration of machine learning (ML) and free remotely sensed big data have opened huge opportunities for data-driven insights into complex problems in agriculture. The objective of this study was to estimate the spatial-temporal variations of maize grain yields from 13-year multi-location on-farm trials implemented across four countries in southern Africa. The agronomic data from the long-term CA trials is used together with gridded biophysical and socio-economic variables. A spatially explicit random forest (RF) algorithm was developed. Spatial variation of yield advantage or loss from CA practices was compared with conventional tillage practices (CP) during seasons with above and below-normal precipitation. The out-of-bag accuracy of the RF model was R 2 = 0.63 and RMSE = 1.2 t ha -1 . The variable importance analysis showed that the altitude, precipitation, temperature, and soil physical and nutrients conditions variables explained most of the variation in maize grain yield. Maps were generated to identify the locations where CA had a yield advantage over CP during seasons with below and above-average precipitation. The CA showed yield gains of up-to 1 t ha -1 during the season with drought compared to CP. In contrast, the CA returned yield losses of similar magnitude during the season with above-normal precipitation, except in Mozambique. The maps on yield advantage will support the spatial targeting of CA to suitable biophysical and socioeconomic contexts. Results demonstrates that multi-source remotely sensed data, coupled with advanced and efficient machine learning algorithms can provides accurate, cost-effective, and timely platform for predicting the optimal locations for the upscaling sustainable agricultural technologies.
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    Trends of rainfall onset, cessation, and length of growing season in northern Ghana: comparing the rain gauge, satellite, and farmer's perceptions
    (Journal Article, 2021-12-13) Atiah, W.A.; Muthoni, Francis K.; Kotu, Bekele Hundie; Kizito, Fred; Amekudzi, L.K.
    Rainfall onset and cessation date greatly influence cropping calendar decisions in rain-fed agricultural systems. This paper examined trends of onsets, cessation, and the length of growing season over Northern Ghana using CHIRPS-v2, gauge, and farmers’ perceptions data between 1981 and 2019. Results from CHIRPS-v2 revealed that the three seasonal rainfall indices have substantial latitudinal variability. Significant late and early onsets were observed at the West and East of 1.5° W longitude, respectively. Significant late cessations and longer growing periods occurred across Northern Ghana. The ability of farmers’ perceptions and CHIRPS-v2 to capture rainfall onsets are time and location-dependent. A total of 71% of farmers rely on traditional knowledge to forecast rainfall onsets. Adaptation measures applied were not always consistent with the rainfall seasonality. More investment in modern climate information services is required to complement the existing local knowledge of forecasting rainfall seasonality.
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    Beyond survival opportunities: enhancing youth livelihoods within the rural space through informed policies in Nigeria
    (Brief, 2021) Olaosebikan, O.; Teeken, Béla; Bello, A.; Okoye, B.; Crossouard, B.; Sumberg, J.; Madu, Tessy
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    Commercialising Africa's Agricultural Research Products: perspectives from TAAT
    (Conference Proceedings, 2020) Opaluwah, A.
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    Communicating the TAAT brand
    (Conference Proceedings, 2018) Opaluwah, A.
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    Social media and the democratisation of information
    (Conference Proceedings, 2020-10) Opaluwah, A.
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    Communication as a strategic tool for Africa's agricultural transformation
    (Conference Proceedings, 2019) Opaluwah, A.
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    Dynamics and diversity of innovation support services: especially networking service activities on selected agro-food innovation cases in Madagascar and Burkina Faso
    (Conference Proceedings, 2021) Ndah, H.T.; Audouin, S.; Crestin-Billet, S.; Randrianarisona, N.; Andriamaniraka, H.; Toillier, A.; Traoré, O.; Fongang, G.; Mathé, S.; Knierim, A.
    In this contribution, we have analysed the “dynamics and diversity of innovation support services, especially networking, facilitation and brokerage service situations as key for influencing successful outcome of innovation processes”?. Results indicate that service activities linked with “enhancing access to resources” and “offering capacity building, stand out as dominant across all three phases of innovation processes for the four innovation cases studied. This implies, support actors and beneficiaries of services seem to attach more importance to technical service activities (e.g. training) and access to resources (e.g. technical, financial resources) as well as facilitating market access over soft skills related service activities such as networking facilitation and brokerage, institutional support for niche innovations, advisory and consultancy and demand articulation. Nevertheless, a cross-cutting view of especially networking service activity reveals its presence in varied dynamics, diversity and forms. We, therefore, recommend that to enhance the key role of networking in any attempt at accompanying and supporting innovation processes, this service function: 1) should be considered as cross-cutting, embedded in every service function and service situation and 2) its specific activities should be sub-categorised under intended networking service activities and side-effect networking service activities all driven by both service providers and beneficiaries of these services for a better maximization of their expected impact on the success of targeted innovations under promotion.