TAAT Cassava Compact hosts training workshop to boost cassava production in Guinea

20 June 2025

To strengthen cassava seed systems in Guinea, the TAAT Cassava Compact completed a two-day training workshop in Conakry from 2 to 3 June 2025.

The training brought together 14 participants—including two women—from the Guinean Institute of Agronomic Research (IRAG). During the workshop, participants deepened their expertise in the identification, management, and production of healthy cassava planting materials.

The workshop focused on building capacity among technicians and seed producers, with sessions on integrated pest and disease management, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), legal frameworks for cassava seed production, and practical pest and disease identification and field sampling techniques.

One of the highlights was a hands-on session in a cassava collection field, where participants applied what they learned in diagnosing diseases and pests with discussions and peer-to-peer learning.

Day 2 focused on the safe cross-border transfer of cassava cuttings, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding Guinea’s cassava sector against pest and disease risks. The training concluded with enthusiastic participant feedback and strong institutional support from IRAG leadership.

This sets the stage for broader impact, especially with ongoing discussions with Guinea’s Emergency Food Production Project (PPAU), which is focused on exploring opportunities to scale the adoption of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology, enabling the large-scale multiplication of clean cassava seeds in the country.

This training signifies a strategic step in unlocking Guinea’s vast potential in cassava production—one clean seed at a time.

Contributed by Apollin Fotso