Tag: African Agricultural Technology Foundation

The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), has completed the second phase of its cassava training program, reaching 1,200 farmers and 200 food processors across five locations in Oyo State — Iseyin, Ijaye, Oyo, Serafu, and Soku.

Held under the Mechanisation of Cassava Production and Processing Project, the initiative focuses on promoting good agronomic practices (GAP), farm mechanization, cassava value addition, and the production of high-quality cassava flour (HQCF).

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the Fund for the Promotion of Innovation in Agriculture (i4Ag).

The project coordinator, Mr. Taiwo Samuel Ogunleye, explained that the program aims not only to boost cassava yields but also to expand value addition beyond traditional products such as gari and fufu.

“This initiative is part of AATF’s broader commitment to enhancing the productivity and income potential of Nigeria’s cassava value chain,” he said.

Director of Tuber Crops Research at NRCRI Umudike and the initiative’s team lead, Dr. Adeyemi Olojede, emphasised the project’s long-term goal: empowering 6,000 farmers and 1,000 food processors across the region over three years.

“This hands-on training is designed to improve cassava productivity and significantly enhance the livelihoods of farmers and processors,” he stated.

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Highlighting the role of HQCF in income diversification, Dr. Olojede noted that experts from NRCRI, the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) in Ilorin, and the Master Bakers Association in Abuja were involved in delivering the training.

A key feature of the program is its focus on empowering women and youth, particularly in cassava processing activities. The 200 processors trained, mainly women from Oyo State, received in-depth training in the economics and techniques of HQCF production, opening new income opportunities for rural households.

Participants expressed appreciation for the initiative, noting that the skills acquired would help them adopt modern farming methods, embrace mechanization, and tap into the growing market for value-added cassava products.

This second phase builds on the success of the inaugural session held in 2024, which trained over 800 farmers and processors. The program, set to conclude in 2026, aims to fulfill AATF’s commitment made during the commissioning of the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-Processing Facility in Fashola, Oyo State, in April 2024.

By bridging knowledge and technology gaps in cassava farming, the project is expected to make a significant contribution to national food security and rural economic growth.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) has teamed up with global and regional partners to empower women and youth in the rice sector.

The initiative will provide businesses with precise climate data to guide rice farming decisions, particularly in planting, irrigation, and pest control, to improve productivity and resilience.

It will deliver weather insight, such as rainfall forecasts, temperature patterns, and seasonal trends via Internet platform and SMS notifications, helping farmers make informed choices to enhance yields and reduce climate-related risks.

This will lead to more sustainable rice production, with higher income for farmers.

Funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges initiative, the project brings together Michigan State University (MSU), Kenya’s Cereal Growers Association (CGA), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and Benue State University (BSU).

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AATF, in a statement by Communication Officer for East and Southern Africa, George Achia, said the Climate-Smart Decision Support System Project would integrate local and satellite data to deliver practical climate insight for rice farmers.

At the launch in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, AATF’s lead on rice projects,  Dr. Kayode Sanni, noted that youth and women-led rice enterprises have needs for timely climate information across the production cycle.

This data, he said, would support critical farming decisions, from choosing planting dates to irrigation planning.

Principal Investigator for the project, Dr. Cecilia Limera, said understanding rainfall patterns and dry spells allows farmers optimise planting schedules and select climate-resilient varieties.

Climate-related hints on pest and disease outbreak and their expected prevalence enables farmers and MSMEs to anticipate and mitigate risks through timely pest management strategies and use of resistant crop varieties or biological controls,” she said.

Project Lead from MSU, Dr. Daniel Uyeh, added the project would leverage ground sensors and satellite-based prediction systems to create a climate-smart decision-suppor, enabling farmers to manage water and input efficiently.

“Our strategy will equip MSMEs with processed climate information, to facilitate efficient irrigation and a data-driven crop management system, which will boost rice production,” he said, adding that the project will develop a user-friendly climate-smart decision-support system using ground sensors.

The project will work with different stakeholders, like weather agencies and extension services, to give rice businesses the right climate information at the right time. This will help these businesses make better decisions, improve their productivity, reduce risks, and support environmentally friendly farming practices in the rice industry.