For many years, selecting the right seed varieties for farmers in Rwanda was a slow and highly technical process. Before a seed recommendation could reach farmers, it often took up to two years of station-based trials and on-farm evaluations.…
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Genomics breakthrough offers new hope for faster improvement of Africa’s staple RTB crops
Roots, Tubers, and Bananas (RTB) crops, which include cassava, yam, banana, plantain, sweet potato, and potato, remain at the heart of food and nutritional security for millions of people across the tropics. In sub-Saharan Africa, especially these crops contribute…
In late May, the African Development Bank Group will convene its Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, under the theme, “Mobilizing Africa’s Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World.…
Landmark decision recognizes non-GMO status of gene-edited banana events 12 May 2026 – Nairobi, Kenya: A quiet but significant shift in Kenya’s agricultural landscape is opening new opportunities and doors for innovation and renewed hope for banana farmers affected…
Taro (Colocasia esculenta) – locally known as cocoyam in Nigeria – supports food and nutrition security for many rural households in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. Nigeria is the world’s largest taro producer, cultivating approximately 1.3 million hectares…
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IITA launches bamboo-based agroforestry initiative in Uganda to boost farmers’ livelihoods and environmental sustainability
IITA–CGIAR has launched a groundbreaking initiative to enhance bamboo agroforestry and economic resilience among smallholder farmers in Uganda. “Enhancing Bamboo Agroforestry & Economic Resilience for Smallholder Farmers in Uganda”, under the WeWork-green and decent jobs for youth project,…
The Bambara groundnut (BGN) (Vigna subterranea), once labeled an orphan crop, has now assumed the status of an important underutilized nutritious, drought-resistant legume crop, and is now positioned as a promising future crop that is serving a varied choice…
Soybeans have steadily emerged as one of the most strategic crops across Africa. Its value spans multiple sectors, including nutrition, livestock feed, and agro-industrial development, making it a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and national economic growth. From soybean oil…