The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has celebrated Nigerian scientist Dr. Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo, who has been awarded the 2025 Africa Food Prize for her pioneering use of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) in the large-scale multiplication of cassava and yam seedlings.
The prize, widely regarded as Africa’s highest honour for agricultural innovation, was announced earlier this month at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, where Dr. Diebiru-Ojo was recognized alongside Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango of Kenya. Together, they will share the US$100,000 cash award attached to the prize.
Dr. Diebiru-Ojo’s breakthrough with SAH technology has transformed how cassava and yam are propagated. The method allows for rapid production of clean, vigorous, and disease-free seedlings across all varieties, addressing long-standing bottlenecks in Africa’s root and tuber seed systems.
At a press briefing in Abuja, IITA’s Director General, Dr. Simeon Ehui, described the recognition as a milestone in the continent’s agricultural development.
“This is a proud day for IITA and a defining moment for African agriculture. We are here to honour Dr. Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo, an IITA–CGIAR scientist whose innovation is revolutionizing the delivery of high-quality planting materials to farmers,” he said.
He further noted that Dr. Diebiru-Ojo has been instrumental in advancing SAH node culture for cassava and yam, two crops central to Africa’s food security. By offering a clean, nursery-based system, SAH accelerates multiplication, reduces field risks, and strengthens seed systems from production to distribution.
Dr. Ehui also commended her scientific excellence and entrepreneurial vision, highlighting her contributions to early-generation seed enterprises and partnerships designed to make improved planting materials both affordable and widely available.
In her response, Dr. Diebiru-Ojo expressed gratitude to IITA, CGIAR, the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), and other partners who supported her research journey, emphasizing that the achievement was a shared success for African agriculture.
Explaining how the technology works, Dr. Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo noted that cassava was the first crop to which the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) system was applied before it was later extended to yam.
“We began experimenting in a small laboratory, adapting the technology to cassava before moving on to yam. The main objective was to create a reliable source of planting materials for cassava, a crop known for its very low multiplication rate compared to maize and other staples,” she explained.
She emphasized that this low multiplication ratio has long hindered farmers’ access to improved cassava varieties.
“For years, farmers struggled because they could not obtain enough quality planting materials, even when better varieties were available. That was the major gap this technology was designed to close. Today, I am pleased to say that it has not only solved this challenge but exceeded expectations. Farmers now have access to improved varieties that are boosting both their yields and livelihoods, reducing the need for extensive farming practices,” she said.
Dr. Diebiru-Ojo also assured farmers of the consistency and productivity of the seedlings produced through SAH.
While presenting samples of the seedlings, she remarked:
“What you see here are cassava plantlets packaged in boxes, something many would not expect. Once transplanted in the field, their performance is remarkable. Within a month, their growth outpaces that of traditional stem cuttings. One of the reasons this innovation received global recognition is its scalability and adaptability. Beyond Nigeria, SAH technology is already being applied in more than 15 African countries.”
With her recognition as a 2025 Africa Food Prize laureate, Dr. Diebiru-Ojo’s innovation is expected to further strengthen Africa’s food systems, enhance farmer productivity, and play a crucial role in advancing agricultural transformation across the continent.
