IITA DG commended for revamping weed science research

… As researchers want action stepped up against weeds

Rising from a two-day meeting at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Ibadan, researchers have commended the Director General of IITA, Dr Nteranya Sanginga for rejuvenating the weeds science program. They also called for more concerted efforts to tackle the menace of weeds in Africa.

The researchers, who are members of the Steering Committee of the IITA Cassava Weed Management project, were unanimous during their inception meeting that unless the problem of weed infestation on farmers’ field is addressed, Africa will not maximize the gains of crop improvement.

Researchers gather to during the Steering Committee meeting of the IITA Cassava Weed Management project in Ibadan

The meeting, which was held 18- 19 August 2014, gave kudos to IITA for its new research agenda of investing in weed science and bringing weed science—a very important but often neglected component of agronomy— to the front burner, and for supporting partners in tackling the problem.

“We thank IITA for the equipment given to us under the Cassava Weed Management Project to help find solutions to the problems of weeds,” said Dr J.C. Okonkwo, Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, who was also unanimously elected as the Chair of the Steering Committee.

Under the new research focus, IITA committed to revive its weed management research; rehabilitated an office building, procured equipment, and hired staff. The building was commissioned during the Steering Committee meeting by Deputy Director General (Partnerships & Capacity Development), Dr Kenton Dashiell, who dedicated it to resource-poor farmers, especially women and children.

Prof John Adisa Ayoade, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture Makurdi (UAM) commended IITA for investing in weed science and called on other institutions to emulate.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor who represented the Vice Chancellor of UAM specifically urged the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project to include graduate students to develop the critical human capital that would take research on weed science forward considering the fact that current weed scientists in Africa were aging.

Commending IITA for its renewed attention to weed science, Project Leader, Cassava Weed Management, Dr Alfred Dixon reiterated the project’s goal of increasing cassava productivity for at least 125,000 Nigerian farm families through the provision of labor-saving solutions for cassava weeding which is usually done by women and children.



Dr Kenton Dashiell (center) inaugurating the IITA Weed Science Center

He said IITA and its partners would work to develop state-of the art weed management practices, by combining improved cassava varieties with proper planting dates, plant populations and plant nutrition options.   According to him, the project is also focusing on intercropping and tillage research, as well as testing 21 different pre-emergence and 19 post-emergence herbicides at different application rates to discover the best combinations for sustainable weed control in cassava. Dr Dixon explained that integrated weed management practices, including the use of herbicides that meet globally accepted conventions and safety thresholds appropriate for smallholders would be crucial in making weed control in cassava more efficient and effective.

The Project Leader decried farmers’ continuous use of obsolete herbicides despite their adverse effects on the environment and health. He said the project intended to change the situation by offering farmers evidence-based information that would help them make better choices.

The project’s progress report presented by the Principal Investigator of the Project, Professor Friday Ekeleme excited members of the Steering Committee. Consequently, they suggested new areas the project could explore for better performance and also developed a monitoring and evaluation guide for the project.

The Steering Committee comprise experts from the three collaborating institutions— the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; University of Agriculture Makurdi; and Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. Other members include international cassava scientists, and representatives of the donor community, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nigeria, and the private sector.

 The committee also visited the IITA Business Incubation Platform and made field trips to experimental plots on cassava weed management control at IITA Campus and Moniya in Ibadan, Oyo State and Ile-ogbo in Osun state.

Researchers gather to during the Steering Committee meeting of the IITA Cassava Weed Management project in Ibadan

Nigerian engineers join forces with IITA to halt devastation by weeds

Efforts to control weeds in cassava farms received a boost with Nigerian engineers joining forces with experts from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to seek sustainable solutions to tackle the menace.
The team of engineers drawn from members of the academia, IITA, public and private sectors are exploring mechanical weeding options used elsewhere in the world with the hope of adapting them to African cropping systems.
The team intends to build on present motorized weeding equipment already available in the market by studying their limitations in the African farming context, understanding those limitations and modifying the equipment for maximum efficiency.

A motorized weeding machine being tested on the field

At a meeting in Ibadan to kick off the collaboration on 13 August, Project Leader for the Cassava Weed Management Project, Dr Alfred Dixon described the partnership as key milestone that would redefine mechanical control of weeds in crops such as cassava in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general.
“For us to maximize yield in Africa, we need to mechanize weeding. And the challenge before us is to innovate options that will take off drudgery from farmers, and make the farms weed-free so that the crops will grow and express their full potential,” Dr Dixon said.
Accounting for between 50 and 80% of the total labor budget of cassava growers, weeds are major disincentives to African farmers. And with traditional agriculture still predominant, women and children bear more the brunt of weeding investing between 200 and 500 hours annually in clearing weeds on a hectare of cassava to prevent economic root losses in Nigeria. The drudgery involved in weeding places a hard-to-bear yolk on women, compromises productivity, and more importantly, put to jeopardy the education of children of ages 5-14 years as most are forced out of school to assist their parents.
Dr Dixon said unless solutions to weeds are made available, African farmers will not increase their farm sizes and enjoy the gains of agricultural growth. “They can plant only what they can weed,” he added.
Prof  Olawale John Olukunle, Head, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), commended the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project for welcoming the proposal to jointly work with the Nigerian experts; and praised the Institute’s efforts towards addressing the problem of weeds in cassava and other African crops.

Project Leader, Dr Alfred Dixon (left) and a team of Nigerian engineers and IITA experts

Launched early this year, the Cassava Weed Management Project is confronting the problem of weeds on several fronts including the use of best-bet agronomic practices by combining improved cassava varieties with proper planting dates, plant populations, plant nutrition options and also focusing on intercropping and tillage research. The integrated weed management approach of the project also includes the use of herbicides that meet globally accepted conventions and safety thresholds appropriate for smallholder farmers.
The project intends to widely share knowledge to farmers on cassava weed control so they can make informed and better choices in controlling weeds on their farms using labor-saving options.

Young farmers rate weeds as most challenging constraint to cassava farming

A young farmer weeding cassava farm

In an interactive discussion aimed at unraveling bottlenecks to farming, young farmers identified devastations by weeds as the most challenging constraint demoralizing cassava farming and hurting yields.

“Our experience is that even before you complete the first course of weeding, you see another set of grasses coming behind,” Akinyele Bankole, a youth agripreneur with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, said during a meeting with members of the Cassava Weed Management team at IITA.

“We have weeded about five times but it appears we are not doing anything when you see the weeds in the fields. This is the most difficult challenge we are facing,” he said.

“And sometimes it looks discouraging seeing our fields with weeds competing with cassava,” Evelyn Ohanwunsi, another youth agripreneur added..

Generally, farmers weed cassava three times, but in cassava farms where perennial weeds such as spear grass are predominant, more weeding may be required.

Researchers estimate that weeding takes 50 to 80% of the total labor budget, and up to 200-500 hours of labour of mostly women and children per ha are required to prevent economic cassava root losses in Nigeria.

Dr Alfred Dixon, Project Leader for the project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria said solutions on weed control in cassava farms were underway following efforts between IITA and partners to combat weeds in cassava.

Under the cassava weed management project, Dr Dixon and his team are conducting research that will develop new best bet innovative weed management practices, combining improved varieties, proper planting dates, plant populations, and plant nutrition, all coupled to intercropping and tillage options, through well-focused trials in the three agro-ecologies where cassava dominates in Nigeria. The project is also testing herbicides for efficacy and economic merit to help make weed control in cassava more efficient and effective.

Dr Dixon said results from the 5-year cassava weed research would be shared with the IITA young agripreneurs and other farmers to enable them to make informed decisions that would not only increase the productivity of cassava but also make cassava farming more attractive and put money in their pockets.

 “I am sure with the cassava weed project, we will be able to tackle the menace of weeds… so be rest assured… we will support you,” he said.

Established two plus years ago under the leadership of Dr Nteranya Sanginga, IITA Director General; the IITA Youth Agripreneur program is an Africa-wide initiative that is attracting youths back to agriculture by exposing the youth to the numerous opportunities that exist in the agricultural sector.

Last year, the IITA youth agripreneurs in Nigeria cultivated more than 50 hectares of cassava, maize and soybean. The group intends to more than double the hectarage this year as weather conditions look positive.

Dr Dixon was accompanied by Dr Gbassey Tarawali, Representative of the IITA DG and Deputy Director General (Partnerships & Capacity Development); and Godwin Atser, Communication & Knowledge Exchange Expert.  IITA DG Sanginga also dropped by and partook in the focus group discussion. 

L-R-- Godwin Atser, Communication & Knowledge Exchange Expert, IITA; Dr  Alfred Dixon, Project Leader for the project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria; and  Dr Gbassey Tarawali, Representative

Cassava Weed Management Project hands over assets to the University of Agriculture Makurdi

Dr Alfred Dixon, Project Leader from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture on Cassava Weed Management Project, (third from right) handing over assets including Toyota Hilux to Prof. Segun Lagoke of the Federal Univers

The project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria, managed by IITA, on 15 July, handed over equipment to the University of Agriculture Makurdi to help tackle the menace of weeds in cassava farms.

Among the items were a Toyota Hilux vehicle, office equipment, a motorcycle, and 20 sprayers.

Prof Friday Ekeleme, Principal Investigator of the Cassava Weed Management Project, said the equipment would facilitate the research and called on the University to carefully use and maintain them.

He said IITA was happy to have the University as a partner in the project, and urged the University to redouble efforts towards ensuring that the problem of weeds in cassava is solved.

In his response, Dr Moses Egbe pledged the commitment of the University on the judicious use of the equipment, and promised to ensure that the project’s objectives are achieved.

The University of Agriculture Makurdi is the third beneficiary of an assets transfer. The other collaborating institutions are the National Root Crops Research Institute Umudike, and the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta.

Launched early this year, the Cassava Weeds Management Project aims to increase productivity for at least 125,000 Nigerian farm families and find solutions to the labor-intensive weeding that is usually done by women and children in cassava farms.

The project, led by Dr Alfred Dixon, has the potential to serve as a template for livelihood transformation in cassava-growing areas not just in Nigeria but across Africa.

The 5-year project involves the three collaborating institutions. Other partners include government representatives, Agricultural Development Programs across the States, international cassava scientists, the donor community, and the private sector.

Prof Friday  Ekeleme hands over equipment to University of Agriculture Makurdi 

 

 

New 5-year research project on sustainable weed management practices for cassava farms launched by IITA and partners

A new multi-year project assessing sustainable weed management technologies for cassava-based farming systems in Nigeria is being launched by the International Institute ofTropical Agriculture (IITA) and its partners in Ibadan, 28-31 January 2014.

The project is seeking to find solutions to the labor-intensive weeding usually performed by women and children and to increase cassava productivity for 125,000 Nigerian farm families. The project has the potential to serve as a livelihood transformation model for all cassava-producing states in Nigeria. 

Cassava is generally grown by smallholder farmers, who appreciate its tolerance of drought and poor soils. However, its prospects in Nigeria—the world’s largest producer—is being threatened by insufficiently developed weed management practices. Hand and hoe weeding are the predominant weed control practices on smallholder cassava farms and takes 50-80 percent of the total labor budget of cassava growers with women contributing more than 90 percent of the labor and 69 percent of farm children between the ages of 5 and 14 are forced to leave school to perform weeding.

“Weeding requires up to 500 hours of labor per hectare to prevent economic losses in cassava roots in Nigeria,” says Project Manager Dr Alfred Dixon. “This burden compromises the women’s responsibilities and the children’s education, and Nigerian farmers will continue to record low yields until weed control in cassava is improved. Farm families cannot plant a larger area than they can weed,” he says. According to him, “Addressing the complex issues of hunger and poverty is no easy task, and so we see the value in engaging in new research and deploying our best resources to ensure that smallholder farmers have access to the best innovations to increase their agricultural productivity and improve the nutrition of their families.”

The ultimate aim of this research is to develop state-of the art weed management practices, by combining improved cassava varieties with proper planting dates, plant populations, and plant nutrition options. These particular practices may include the use of herbicides—all of which currently meet globally-accepted conventions and safety thresholds appropriate for smallholder farmers—to make weed control in cassava more efficient. Any herbicide activity will be part of a comprehensive strategy of effective agronomic practices that are collectively striving to make weed management more effective and sustainable.

The IITA-managed project is supported by a US $7.7million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and involves the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; the University of Agriculture, Makurdi; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; government representatives, international cassava scientists, the donor community, and the private sector. “The project will also offer policymakers better information on modern, relevant, and appropriate weed management technologies. This information could be used to expand the project to 5 million farm families in Nigeria,” says Dr Friday Ekeleme, the project’s Principal Investigator.  

The sustainable cassava weed management project aligns with Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda and will help to meet the Government’s goals to increase domestic food production, reduce dependence on food imports, and expand value addition to locally produced agricultural products. The project will be handed over to one of the key national institutions in the development and extension of improved cassava technologies, NRCRI, for scaling-up the project’s outcomes on a national level.