The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has inaugurated new irrigation systems and research farm equipment to accelerate the development and delivery of improved crop varieties at a larger scale.
The project, funded by the Crops to End Hunger (CtEH) initiative, was launched at the institute’s headquarters in Ibadan on Thursday.
IITA Director-General (DG), Dr. Simeon Ehui, said the project would strengthen the institute’s capacity to better serve farmers in Nigeria and across Africa.
“The new infrastructure enhances IITA’s farm research, allowing us to conduct more efficient breeding trials, sustain year-round research, and respond better to climate variability. In practical terms, this means we can develop and deliver improved varieties to farmers faster and at a larger scale,” he said.
Ehui emphasized that the project is not just about new equipment, but about building a more resilient, productive, and sustainable agricultural system for Africa. “These facilities will serve as platforms for innovation, training, and partnerships with national research systems and other stakeholders across the region,” he added.
The DG commended IITA staff for their dedication and acknowledged the German Government and other partners for supporting the project.
In addition to the irrigation systems, other equipment inaugurated includes tractors equipped with GPS systems, planters, manure spreaders, and combine harvesters.
The Chairman of the IITA Board of Trustees, Dr. Roel Merckx, said mechanization remains a challenge in Africa but noted that the mechanized irrigation facilities would ease water access and allow researchers to focus more on breeding additional crop varieties.
Mr. Alick Mulenga, IITA Head of Farm Management and Breeding Operations, said the mechanized equipment would make farm operations more efficient.
“Currently, planting, weed spraying, and harvesting are all done manually, which is inefficient and time-consuming. With this equipment, we can execute operations faster, more efficiently, and more reliably,” he said.
Mulenga added that the irrigation system would enable multiple crop cycles per season, unlike before when research relied solely on rainfall. He said the infrastructure would positively impact breeders, the public, and smallholder farmers across Nigeria and Africa.
Mr. Richard Ofei, IITA Project Management Officer for Root, Tuber, and Banana, said the facilities would reduce human labor requirements, thereby enhancing profitability.
