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The importance of the light spectrum in a high-throughput phenotyping lab concept: evaluating transpiration and biomass growth of different banana cultivars under different blue/red light ratios
(2020)The Bioversity International Musa Germplasm Transit Center holds the world's biggest collection of banana biodiversity (>1500 accessions). We aim to characterize this banana diversity for its suitability for specific agro-ecological conditions. To achieve this characterization, a lab-based model is needed to rapidly and objectively determine growth. Identifying a suitable light source that can help mimic relevant agro-ecological conditions is a challenge. LED lights are the most economical way to ... -
Overcoming the fertility crisis in bananas (Musa spp.).
(Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2021) -
National food consumption and micronutrient survey 2021: final report
(Federal Government of Nigeria and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 2024-01)The last National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (NFCMS) was undertaken about 20 years ago in 2001 (Maziya-Dixon, et al., 2004; Nigeria Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey 2001- 2003, IITA, https://hdl.handle.net/10568/100010). The findings of that study likely no longer represent the current micronutrient status or dietary consumption patterns of the Nigerian population. This lack of recent and reliable information presents several challenges, both in terms of reviewing ongoing ... -
National food consumption and micronutrient survey 2021: key findings
(International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 2024-01) -
Matching cereal and legume crop varieties to production environments in Northeast Nigeria using Decision Support Tools (DST)
(International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 2024) -
Introduction: climate, cocoa and trees
(Springer, 2023-12-30)Climate change is predicted to significantly reduce areas suitable for the cultivation of cocoa, an important cash crop providing a livelihood to over six million smallholders in the humid tropics. Cocoa agroforestry shows potential to increase climate resilience while providing more stable incomes, enhancing biodiversity, supporting healthy ecosystems and reducing the pace at which farms expand into forested areas. Based on the multidisciplinary ‘Climate Smart Cocoa Systems for Ghana’ research ... -
Social challenges and opportunities in agroforestry: cocoa farmers’ perspectives
(Palmgrave Macmillan, 2024)Agroforestry practices in cocoa cultivation have historical roots going back to the Mayan sacred groves in Mesoamerica. Today, agroforestry cocoa, i.e., the integration of shade trees, plants and crops in cocoa systems, is promoted as a climate smart practice by public and private institutions. Shaded cocoa can sustain or even increase cocoa yields and the agroforestry systems may provide additional output for household consumption and sale as well as improve the microclimate and soil conditions ... -
Host plant resistance to insects in pulse crops
(Springer, 2024)Pulses are important sources of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals for human nutrition and are widely cultivated in many countries around the world. Crops belonging to pulse include mainly chickpeas, mung bean, lentils, pigeon peas, and cowpeas. Pulse production and storage are negatively affected by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, such as insect pests, diseases, parasites, low soil fertility, heat, and drought. Among these, insect pests have the most significant impact on ... -
Household economics of cocoa agroforestry: costs and benefits
(Palmgrave Macmillan, 2024)Current research suggests that cocoa agroforestry systems could offer stable yields, additional benefits and income from shade trees, despite potential added costs, such as from the purchase of insecticides. There is a paucity of profitability studies of different cocoa agroforestry systems. Only few of them go beyond a narrow focus on cocoa yields to model the entire agroforestry system and thus do not advance our understanding of the socio-economic value of other ecosystem goods. Based on survey ... -
Global strategy for the conservation and use of Vigna
(Global Crop Diversity Trust, 2023) -
Designing dioscorea genomes for improved nutritional and pharmaceutical properties
(Springer, 2023-12-15)Dioscorea species, commonly known as “Yams,” belong to family Dioscoreaceae consisting of about 600 species distributed from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean’s South America, and the South Pacific islands. The tuber of this genus is well known for their organoleptic properties, making them the most widely used food for carbohydrate, dietary supplements, and famine food. West Africa represents the region where yams are mostly consumed because of their underground and/or aerial tubers representing valuable ... -
Cocoa under heat and drought stress
(Springer, 2023)Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is an important cash crop in many tropical countries, particularly in West Africa. Heat and drought are both known to affect the physiology of cocoa plants through reduced rates of photosynthesis and transpiration, as well as changed physiological processes such as the functions of photosystems, chlorophyll synthesis, stomatal conductance and expression of heat-shock proteins. This in turn leads to decreased yields and increased risks of mortality under severe heat and ... -
IITA’s social science and agribusiness research for development: compendium of research highlights 1967–2022
(International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 2023)Background The social science and agribusiness research program at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has supported the Institute’s research and delivery efforts since 1967. This Compendium highlights the main achievements of IITA’s social science and agribusiness research over the 55 years from 1967 to 2022. Methodology The Compendium is a product of a systematic review conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) ... -
Agricultural transformation in maize producing areas of Africa
(IntechOpen, 2024-01)Maize is a critical staple cereal across Sub-Saharan Africa but attempts to improve its productivity in small-scale farming systems often prove disappointing. The 12 key technologies required to overcome poor yields are mostly known, but the manner that they are mobilized, packaged, and delivered requires re-evaluation. Combinations of better varieties and their necessary accompanying inputs must become more available and affordable for an African maize revolution to succeed, and land must be ... -
Nematode problems in tuber crops and their sustainable management
(Elsevier, 2023)In many subtropical and tropical countries, the most significant food commodities produced are those that are grown from tubers and roots (R&T). The R&T include yams (Dioscorea spp. L.), cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) and edible aroids such as Taro (Colocasia esculenta Schott.) and Tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium Schott.). These crops represent the second-largest global source of carbohydrates, after cereals, in the tropical world, with a projected ... -
Improvement of nutraceutical traits of banana: new breeding techniques
(Springer, 2023-07-07)Banana (Musa spp.) is an herbaceous, everlasting green monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Musaceae. It is a major staple crop after rice, maize, wheat, potato and cassava, and it has a high potential to contribute to food and nutrition security. It is an excellent fruit full of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, iron, potassium, and magnesium, and is a source of energy for millions of inhabitants of tropical and subtropical regions. Despite these qualities, banana is still lacking ... -
Seed certification and maize, rice and cowpea productivity in Nigeria: an insight based on nationally representative farm household data and seed company location data
(International Food Policy Research Institute, 2022-12)Despite the potential importance of seed quality to agricultural productivity growth, many governments in sub-Saharan Africa lack the capacity to expand quality assurance systems even where there is expressed interest. This study aims to evidence the value of quality assurance systems with an analysis of efforts to produce and distribute certified seed in Nigeria. We assess the associations between quantities of certified seeds produced and spatial variations in production locations proxied by ... -
Inventory of novel approaches to seed quality assurance mechanisms for vegetatively propagated crops (VPCs) in seven African countries
(IInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture, 2022-10)This paper provides an inventory of novel approaches to and mechanisms for quality assurance of the seeds of vegetatively produced crops (VPCs). It explores to what extent seven African countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) are decentralising and integrating VPC seed systems, in terms of regulations governing the sector, methods of seed production, and methods of seed inspection and certification. It consolidates existing data and presents new data on decentralised ... -
Creating a lean, reliable, and scalable platform for highfrequency data on diet quality in Rwanda
(Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, 2022) -
Sustainable information technology practice in libraries
(IGI Global, 2023-01)Information technology is a crucial tool required for the growth of all sectors in any nation. Undoubtedly, its application in libraries contributes significantly to meeting people’s information needs since libraries are essential in providing information services to information seekers. Thus, a well-organized library should have sustained information technology to assist in providing correct and timely services to its patrons. This chapter used current and relevant research findings and papers ...
