IITA partners Syngenta on food production in Nigeria

The collaboration, according to IITA’s head of communication, Andrea Gros and Syngenta Corporate affairs representative, Iruansi Itoandon, was aimed at identifying, adapting and making available to Nigerian farmers high-yielding and superior maize and vegetable hybrids. Joint efforts by both organizations, according to him, will promote cost-effective production packages for maize, tomato, sweet pepper and cabbage […]

The collaboration, according to IITA’s head of communication, Andrea Gros and Syngenta Corporate affairs representative, Iruansi Itoandon, was aimed at identifying, adapting and making available to Nigerian farmers high-yielding and superior maize and vegetable hybrids.
Joint efforts by both organizations, according to him, will promote cost-effective production packages for maize, tomato, sweet pepper and cabbage as well as increase farmers’ yields and incomes from cultivating the crops.
“Under the agreement, variety trials will be conducted at IITA sites in Nigeria using Syngenta’s hybrid seeds for the selected crops, crop protection packages and standard crop production protocols.
“The research is being piloted in Kaduna, Kano and Oyo states and will deploy best agronomic strategies in developing complete growing protocols to evaluate the hybrids for adaptation in Nigeria. IITA will also provide professional development and training to Syngenta staff and partners in Nigeria to increase knowledge and capacity to deliver more effective client services.”
According to the IITA’s Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, the partnerships will bring together IITA’s strong research capacity, improved varieties and agronomic technologies and Syngenta’s technical capacity and best practices of private business.