01/22/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/22/2025 09:27
In alignment with IITA's longstanding vision of transforming agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa, the institute recently hosted a delegation from the Food System Resilience Project (FSRP), based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The delegation, comprising farmers' representatives from various districts in Sierra Leone, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, project leads, and FSRP technical staff, visited IITA on January 16 to explore potential areas of collaboration and learn about the institute's climate-smart agricultural initiatives.
In his welcome remarks, IITA's Director of Strategic Planning and Chief of Staff, Ibnou Dieng, introduced key experts from various research areas and provided an overview of the institute's activities. This was complemented by a detailed documentary highlighting IITA's research achievements and impact over the years. Kepifri Lakoh, the FSRP Project Lead, expressed gratitude to IITA and the AfricaRice team for accommodating the group on short notice.
During the visit, the delegation toured several key facilities, including the Virology Laboratory, the Regional Fertilizer Hub, AfricaRice's research fields, the Aflasafe facility, the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) Screen House, and the Cassava Processing Unit. These visits offered the delegates insights into the innovative technologies and practices driving agricultural transformation.