The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative efforts aimed at driving agricultural innovation and sustainable development in Africa.
SAA, which has been working hand in hand with smallholder farmers in Africa for over 30 years, has been strengthening the agricultural extension system in sub-Saharan Africa to support smallholders gain a variety of skills and knowledge in agriculture.
Meanwhile, IITA’s Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) initiative is a youth in agribusiness model established to address widespread youth unemployment and provide a platform for self-employment in agriculture.
During a recent visit to IITA’s headquarters in Ibadan, SAA representatives discussed ways to leverage the expertise of both organizations to promote innovative agricultural projects.
According to Atser, the collaboration will identify and outline the specific actions required to put the agreement into practice and start working together effectively.
While speaking, IITA Senior Research Supervisor, ThankGod Ogwuche, gave a detailed explanation of Semi-Autotropics Hydroponics (SAH) technology stating its benefits particularly to small-scale farmers.
During the tour, Higa discussed their collaborative work on the African Cassava Agronomy Initiative (ACAI) and the development of AKILIMO. She noted that this partnership could serve as an advantage for SAA.
In his remarks, Idowu Osun, IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA) Business Development Officer, encouraged the team to engage policymakers in the creation of supportive structures within the agricultural sector.
Sharing insights from various countries, he pointed out that, “Leveraging existing government facilities and promoting a mindset change among government officials would enhance agricultural development in Nigeria.”
In his closing remarks, Dr. Atser outlined the role of collaboration between SAA and IYA in promoting IITA’s innovations.
He called on young agripreneurs to develop strategies for attracting more young people to agriculture, stressing that youth play a huge role in ensuring continued progress in the agricultural sector.