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Conference Documents: Recent submissions
Now showing items 221-240 of 597
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Germplasm characterization at IITA
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Breeding for fungal resistance in Musa
(1999)Bananas and plantains are both important staple foods and cash crops for millions of people. Bananas are large perennial herbs of the genus Musa. Cultivated bananas are primarily triploids (3x) derived from intraspecific and interspecific crosses of two diploid species Musa acuminata Colla (Ma.) and Musa balbisiana Colla (M.b.) (Simmonds, 1995). In West and Central Africa, plantains provide more than 25% of the carbohydrate requirements for over 70 million people (Vuylsteke et al., 1993). In Uganda, ... -
Explaining the Failure in Agricultural production in subSaharan Africa
(2003)This paper examines changes in agricultural productivity in 10 Subsaharan countries. The relative performance of agricultural sector was gauged using data envelopment analysis. From a panel data set of the 10 countries which included the 28-year period 1972-1999, mathematical programming methods were used to measure Malmquist indexes of total factor productivity. It was found that, during that period, total factor productivity have experienced a negative evolution in sample countries. A decomposition ... -
The role of GIS in the development and targeting of maize germplasm to farmers in West and Central Africa
(2003)Maize (Zea mays L) is cultivated under a broad range of climatic conditions in West and Central Africa (WCA). For the purpose of germplasm evaluation, maize researchers in the subregion loosely stratified the diverse environments into four agroecological zones based on their knowledge and experience rather than on quantitative studies involving climatic data. Recent advances in the development of digital spatial databases and geographic information systems (GIS) have provided unprecedented ... -
Advances in yam and cassava nematology research at IITA
(2003)Progress in pest management on cassava (Manihot esculenta) in Africa has witnessed remarkable achievements over recent years in the management of African cassava mosaic virus, cassava mealy bug, cassava green mite and overall germplasm improvement for yield improvements. From the scant information available, root-knot nematodes appear to pose potentially serious constraints to cassava production across Africa. Under heavy infection, 98 % yield losses have been reported and in a survey in Uganda, ... -
Economic gains from maize research in West and Central Africa: an overview
(2003)Agricultural research by national systems and international institutes has contributed to the increase in maize production and productivity in West and Central Africa (WCA) over the last three decades. This subregion accounted for about 43% of maize production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from 1998-2000, compared with 17% 30 years ago (1968-1970). Yields improved by 41% from an average of 858 kg ha"' in 1970 to about 1210 kg ha"' in 2000. During the period under review, a large number of disease ... -
Evaluation de nouvelles varieties digname en Cote dIvoire: bilan de trois annees dexperience avec des genotypes ameliores par lIITA
(2003)Assessment of new yam varieties in Côte d'Ivoire : results of three experiments years with improved genotypes by IITA The most important food crop in the Ivory Coast, yam, is cultivated in a traditional system with low productivity. In order to suffice the needs of the growing population the introduction of new technologies increasing the production of yam is mandatory. One way suggested here is the introduction of new improved varieties. The aim of this project was to identify promising varieties ... -
Promoting maize technology transfer in West and Central Africa: a networking approach
(2003)The major thrust of the West and Central Africa Collaborative Maize Research Network (WECAMAN) has been on the development of early and extra-early maize varieties and associated agronomic practices. Adoption of these varieties and, to some extent, the complementary agronomic practices by farmers has led to the expansion of maize production in the sub region. However, the rate of adoption of the technologies has been constrained by several factors, including high price and non-availability of ... -
Amelioration de la production de ligname a travers la fertilisation minerale en zone de savene de Cote dIvoire
(2003)Improving yam production by mineral fertilisation in the savanna zone of Cote d'Ivoire. Côte d'Ivoire is the second producer of yam after Nigeria with 2.8 millions tons produced per year. Though its farmers are still looking for ‘'virgin'' soil to increase their yields. Mineral fertilization study led in the savanna zone has as objective to determine the response of local yams to mineral fertilizers. Thus, four local varieties (Bètè bètè, Gnan, Krenglè and Wacrou) are tested with two fertility ... -
Increasing biological N2 fixation and its contribution to the N cycle in alley cropping
(1995)Biological N2 fixation (BNF) of hedgerow trees, organic mailer decomposition and nutrient transfer to associated food Crops are the major processes which should actualize the expected benefits of alley cropping systems. Leucaena leucocephala or Gliricid,a sepium can fix between 134 and 274 kg N2 ha-1 yr-1 under field conditions. There are large genotypic and microbial symbiont differences between varieties of a single tree species resulting in different N2 fixation, and differences in tolerance ... -
The role of Vesiculararbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in alley cropping
(1995)Alley cropping trials were conducted on different parts (top, middle and base) of a sloping land to compare the effects of inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi on Senna siamea, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) intercrop on an Alfisol in subhumid southwestern Nigeria. The above ground biomass yield of hedgerow trees one year after establishment was higher at the base than at the top of the slope, bur was not influenced by ... -
Exante evaluation of nutrition and health benefits of biofortified cassava roots in nigeria: the dalys approach
(2004)Cassava is a major staple that supplies more than 50% of daily energy to more than 200 million persons in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Cassava roots are known to be low in micronutrients such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc. Micronutrient deficiencies threaten the lives of millions of poor households and those located in remote rural areas of SSA often not targeted by fortification programmes. This paper presents results from an ex-ante evaluation of nutrition and health benefits of increased vitamin A ...
