By Peter Emmanuel |
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in partnership with the Cross River State Government, has launched a week-long Training of Trainers (ToT) programme aimed at strengthening yam seed systems, improving agronomic practices, and boosting agribusiness development across the state.
The training, which held in Calabar, brought together yam farmers, Local Government Directors of Agriculture, State Agriculture Officers, and Extension Agents to build capacity on improved yam seed technologies and modern farming practices.
According to organisers, the initiative is designed as the first phase of a broader intervention to scale knowledge across communities through a structured step-down training model, where participants will transfer acquired skills to farmers at the grassroots level.
Speaking during the programme, Field and Seed Systems Specialist under the IITA Yam Improvement Program, Dr Olugboyega Pelemo, said scaling improved technologies is key to transforming yam production in Nigeria.
“Technologies like the minisett, vine cutting, SAH and mini tubers that we have developed at IITA will only become visible when it is scaled, and scaling can become impactful when the capacity of key actors are developed,” he said.
He added that beneficiaries of the training are expected to transfer the knowledge to last-mile users in their respective communities across Cross River State.
Yam remains one of Nigeria’s most important staple crops, contributing significantly to food security, rural livelihoods, and income generation. However, challenges such as poor seed quality, limited access to improved agronomic practices, and weak market linkages continue to limit productivity.
The programme seeks to address these gaps by strengthening local capacity, promoting adoption of improved technologies, and enhancing agribusiness opportunities for farmers across the state.
Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, said the government is committed to improving agricultural productivity through targeted capacity-building programmes.
“As part of the agricultural agenda, the government is committed to providing the requisite capacity and resources to support the farmers of Cross River,” he said, adding that similar interventions will be extended to other crops such as plantain.
The initiative also aligns with efforts under the IITA Yam Breeding Program led by Dr Asrat Amele and supported by the RTB Breeding initiatives, with the goal of promoting Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), expanding access to improved yam varieties, and developing community-based seed producers in Cross River State.
IITA described the collaboration as a step toward transforming the yam value chain through innovation, partnerships, and inclusive knowledge transfer that reaches farmers at the grassroots.
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