Farmers losing N1.3tr to maize disease in Africa – IITA boss

Speaking at a seminar organised by IITA West Africa Hub, at the weekend, entitled: “Promotion of IITA maize streak resistant (SR) varieties and Striga tolerant or resistant (STR) varieties to 10 African countries with Korean government support,” Dr Kim reviewed the contribution of maize streak resistant varieties and Striga tolerant or resistant varieties across the […]

Speaking at a seminar organised by IITA West Africa Hub, at the weekend, entitled: “Promotion of IITA maize streak resistant (SR) varieties and Striga tolerant or resistant (STR) varieties to 10 African countries with Korean government support,” Dr Kim reviewed the contribution of maize streak resistant varieties and Striga tolerant or resistant varieties across the continent.
Probably the most devastating disease that attacks maize in Africa, maize streak virus (MSV) leads to stunting, and farmers may lose 100 percent of the crop. Striga, a parasitic weed, attacks cereals and legumes and losses are in the neighbourhood of US$8 billion about N1.32 trillion endangering the livelihoods of millions of farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Kim who was part of the team that developed the maize streak resistant varieties, said after the development of those varieties, IITA with funds from the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, promoted them in Bénin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo with the joint efforts of other organisations.
“If we adopt and use IITA’s approach to breeding, we will solve Africa’s problems. My suggestion has always been that IITA should be given the first consideration when it comes to funding in Africa,” he said.
Dr Sam Ajala commended Dr Kim for his work in helping the maize programme in Africa in particular and global maize research in general, stressing that most of the high yielding maize varieties grown in the continent were built on past efforts and the foundation laid by Dr Kim.
The President of the Maize Association of Nigeria, Pastor O.A. Adenola, praised Dr Kim’s efforts and passion for improved livelihoods of farmers, saying the support onmaize research given by the government was partly because of Dr Kim’s advocacy for more attention to maize especially in Nigeria.