The IITA-managed project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria has handed over equipment to the University of Agriculture Makurdi to help tackle the menace of weeds in cassava farms.
A statement from the IITA, Corporate Communication Officer, Godwin Atser said among the equipment that was handed over to the university were a Toyota Hilux vehicle, office equipment, a motorcycle, and 20 sprayers among others.
According to the statement, Principal Investigator to the IITA Cassava Weed Management Project, Prof Friday Ekeleme, described the equipment as necessary tools that would facilitate the research on weeds in cassava and called on the university to carefully use and maintain them.
He said IITA was glad to have the university as a partner in the project, and urged it to redouble its efforts towards ensuring that the problem of weeds in cassava is solved.
Responding, Dr Moses Egbe of the university pledged the commitment of the university to judicious use of the equipment with a view to achieving the project objectives.
Atser said the university is the third beneficiary of assets transfer. The other collaborating institutions that received similar set of equipment are the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; and the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB).
“Launched early this year, the project Sustainable Weed Management Technologies for Cassava Systems in Nigeria aims to find solutions to the labor-intensive weeding that is usually done by women and children in cassava farms with the goal of increasing productivity for at least 125,000 Nigerian farm families”.
He said the project has the potential to serve as a template for livelihood transformation in cassava-growing areas not just in Nigeria but across Africa.
“The 5-year project involves three collaborating institutions— the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike; University of Agriculture Makurdi, and the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. Other partners include government representatives, Agricultural Development Programs (ADPs) in the states, international cassava scientists, the donor community, and the private sector”.
