Understanding and overcoming the challenges facing the poor and the smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is important in achieving greater impacts through agricultural research for development.
IITA focuses its research for development around farming system-based outcomes primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, while recognizing that the products of its research will be relevant for tropical Asia and America. Our research supports innovation processes to achieve a reduction in food insecurity and poverty.
IITA’s strategic goals include:
- increasing yields of food crops by 60%
- lifting over 11 million Africans above the poverty line
- revitalizing 7.5 million hectares of badly degraded farml ands
- reducing the number of malnourished children by 30%
Our measures of success
11 Million Africans out of poverty
7.5 Million hectares of land into sustainable use
60 % Yield increase
Success stories
In a prestigious recognition of his expertise in banana, Professor Rony Swennen, a scientist at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)/CGIAR, has been appointed as a visiting professor at the Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China.
During a brief stay in the South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which hosts IITA-CGIAR, Dr Simeon Ehui, Director General of IITA and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, met with Provincial Governor Jean-Jacques Mpurusi Sadiki.
Agri-food value chains (AVCs) have experienced tremendous growth and transformation in the last two decades in developing regions.
