Food Security: IITA Cameroon Fetes Research Strides

The country branch of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Wednesday June 28, 2017, started celebrating progress made in  Cameroon

The Cameroon branch of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has organised a special ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the research outfit in ensuring food security in the country over the past 25 years. Wednesday’s celebration took place at the IITA station in Nkolbison – Yaounde and was graced by the presence of the Minister Delegate in charge of Rural Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ananga Messina née Beyene Clementine Antoinette. The celebration is in prelude to the golden jubilee celebration of IITA to take place in Ibadan – Nigeria, on July 24, 2017, officials said, adding that there shall also be the seventh reunion of former trainees of the institute.
According to the Country Representative of IITA in Cameroon, Dr. Rachid Hanna, the celebration is worthwhile because ever since the research outfit started operations in Cameroon, it has been contributing enormously in increasing the profitability of foods, feeds and other agricultural products, ensuring food security as well as sustainable management of natural resources. “We have developed new varieties of crops which are highly productive, resistant to pests and adaptable to the changing climate in tropical Africa,” Dr. Rachid noted. He...