Commissioners of Agriculture, researchers and agricultural sector investors are gathered at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for a conference on cassava weed management.
Drivers of the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project (IITA-CWMP) are currently sharing results of research in weed management in cassava production.
Between today Monday March 19 and tomorow, Tuesday, March 20, results of the project will be presented to policymakers, researchers and other partners including those from the private sector.
Welcoming participants, Project Leader, IITA-CWMP, Dr Alfred Dixon said, the Commissioners were particularly needed to be part of the process in order to take the new ideas to the over 4.5 milion casava farmers in Nigeria.
Inaugurated in 2014, the IITA-CWMP is a 5-year project with the key objective of addressing weed constraints in cassava farming systems, thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for funding support.
In the last four years, the project has developed weed control options drawing from the use of best bet agronomic practices, use of motorized weeders, and the use of safe and environmentally friendly herbicides.
The conference will dwell on what have been achieved in the last four years.
Details later…
