For over 70 percent of rural women in Tanzania, land is more than an agriculturally productive asset. It is the foundation for livelihoods, household food and nutrition security, economic empowerment, dignity, voice, and decision-making. Yet, despite legal protections,…
When farmers participate in crop breeding as citizen scientists, their knowledge and experience can shape which varieties are advanced and released. But participation can also strengthen farmers’ own knowledge, agency and leadership—capacities that can, in turn, make breeding and…
Scaling agricultural mechanization innovations has enormous potential to transform Zambia’s food, land, and water systems by improving productivity, reducing labor demands, minimizing post-harvest losses, and creating new business opportunities across agricultural value chains. However, successful mechanization scaling is…
For more than 16 years, maize farmer Oyeniyi Julius in the Akufo farm settlement, Ido LGA, relied on experience to guide his farming decisions. Like many smallholder farmers in Oyo State, he understood the rhythm of the seasons. He…
Building a functional formal cassava seed system is critical to Tanzania’s agriculture. It is the foundation for providing high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient cassava varieties to smallholder farmers. Yet the very people who form the backbone of cassava production, women…
On 9 March, IITA–CGIAR hosted a special hybrid event at the institute’s headquarters to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of women. The gathering brought together leaders, professionals, and partners to reflect on the importance of empowering women, promoting…
Persistent gender inequalities within agrifood systems limit equitable access to resources, decision-making power, and economic opportunities. Recognizing the need for systemic change, the Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator conducted a pilot training course on Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs) for…
The GenderUp methodology revolutionizes agricultural innovations and how they should be scaled toward achieving societal outcomes for all. Developed in collaboration with CGIAR, Wageningen University and Research, and the University of California, Davis, this discussion-based method supports innovation teams to scale…