17 results
Empowering Farmers with Digital Guidance The NextGen Advisory is an online advisory tool, a comprehensive decision support system designed to provide site-specific fertilizer recommendations for key crops in Ethiopia, such as maize, teff, and wheat. It integrates hyper-localized data and tailored approaches to address specific household needs under the integrated soil fertility management plus (ISFM+) framework. Additionally, the tool offers crucial climate information services to guide farmers on optimal planting dates and fertilizer application timings. By leveraging various technologies and machine learning algorithms, this tool aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability by delivering precise, actionable advisories directly to farmers.
Specialized biostimulant for root development and vegetative growth on field crops Turbocrop stands as a specialized biostimulant, strategically crafted to elevate root development and stimulate vegetative growth across crops. The formulation is tailored to fortify plants against abiotic stressors, encompassing extreme temperatures, drought conditions, and nutrient deficiencies. Its multifaceted benefits include enhanced root architecture, optimized nutrient utilization, and holistic support for robust plant growth, ultimately contributing to improved crop resilience and productivity.
N-fixing bacteria to reduce chemical fertilizer use Stimuplant is an inoculant designed for diverse legume crops, leveraging a symbiotic association with Rhizobia bacteria. This unique collaboration enhances nitrogen levels in the soil, contributing 40 to 150 kg per hectare. Certified with CERES organic certification, Stimuplant ensures sustainable and organic farming practices. The innovative UPL powder carrier technology shields bacteria from harsh environmental conditions, providing extended shelf life (9 months) and offering practical packaging tailored for smallholder farmers. This multifaceted solution addresses nitrogen scarcity, promotes organic certification, and enhances the accessibility of inoculants for farmers.
Smart Solutions for Safer Farming The technology "Integrated Management of Insects, Diseases, and Weeds" is of paramount importance that addresses several critical issues in Pest and Disease Vulnerability, Inappropriate Pesticide Usage, Pesticide Resistance, Food Security Concerns, Environmental Impact. The technology provides a solution through integrates various biological, mechanical, physical, and cultural methods to achieve more effective and sustainable crop protection. IPM is a vital strategy to combat the challenges posed by pests and diseases, ensuring food security, and promoting responsible agricultural practices.
Weed Management for Optimal Yield The "Mechanical and Chemical Weed Management" technology is a game-changer for bean farmers, especially in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. Weeds can cause major losses in bean crops, and this technology offers a more efficient and cost-effective solution compared to manual weeding. By using herbicides and mechanical weeders, farmers can save time, increase their yield, and ultimately improve their income. This innovation is a powerful tool in ensuring food security and economic stability for bean farmers in various African countries.
Balanced Protection for Sustainable Harvests Integrated Management of Insects, Diseases, and Weeds in Wheat (IPM) is an approach designed to minimize the use of chemical pesticides while maximizing natural control mechanisms for pests. It involves a combination of biological, mechanical/physical, and cultural techniques tailored to local conditions. IPM is crucial in preventing the emergence of pesticide-resistant pests, ensuring lasting crop protection, and maintaining food safety and environmental integrity.
Disease-Resistant Cassava Cuttings for Higher Yields Disease resistant cassava varieties plays a critical role in overcoming the challenges faced by cassava farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Cassava, a vital food crop in the region, is frequently plagued by devastating viral diseases, such as cassava mosaic disease and cassava brown streak disease, which harm the leaves, reduce photosynthesis, and result in significant yield losses, sometimes leading to complete crop failure. In essence, disease resistant cassava varieties are instrumental in safeguarding cassava production, ensuring food security, and improving the livelihoods of farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. These varieties represent a sustainable and efficient approach to combat viral infections that threaten cassava crops, making them a vital technology for the region.
Accessible best agricultural practices for everyone The "Stepwise Approach" is a structured methodology developed by the IITA research team and its partners, particularly under the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security (CCAFS). This approach is tailored to assist smallholder coffee farmers in Uganda in adopting Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices. It functions by breaking down recommended, yet often unaffordable, best practices into smaller, more economically feasible packages that can be implemented gradually in phases. The Stepwise Approach takes into account specific agro-ecological variables and addresses the needs and aspirations of farmers to guide incremental investments in a systematic manner. It aims to inform and guide farmers on the most efficient investments required to enhance coffee yields, improve farmer livelihoods, and increase resilience to climate change effects. Additionally, it contributes to increasing awareness and knowledge about climate-smart agricultural practices among farmers and assists both the public and private sectors in effectively targeting extension support to smallholder coffee farmers.
Low-cost fodder system for small livestock The "Cut-and-Carry Fodder Systems" technology offers a transformative method for feeding animals by collecting and providing feed directly to confined livestock, an approach known as zero grazing. This system stands as an efficient alternative to traditional grazing, reducing feed wastage and maximizing the use of available vegetation resources. While it demands more labor and local vegetation, it brings several crucial advantages: Enhanced Feed Management, maximizing Crop Residues, improved Farm, asset Management and adaptability in Grazing Methods. In essence, the "Cut-and-Carry Fodder Systems" technology not only provides a more efficient way of feeding livestock but also offers the opportunity for faster growth, better resource utilization, and improved management of farm assets, contributing to increased productivity and profitability in livestock farming.
Safeguarding Chickens and reducing Costs The "Low-Cost Cage and Free-Range Containment" is a special way to keep chickens safe and healthy while also saving money. It's like a movable house for chickens. During the day, the chickens get to run around outside and eat natural food like insects and plants. This makes them strong and healthy. This special chicken house is not expensive to build and is easy to move around. It's perfect for small farmers who can't afford big, fancy chicken houses. It also helps make sure the chickens are happy and well taken care of.
Harvest More, Feed Better, Farm Smarter The technology of "Dual-purpose Varieties for Crop and Livestock Integration" holds paramount importance, particularly in African drylands. The productivity of natural pastures and rangelands in these regions is diminishing due to overgrazing, soil degradation, and the impact of climate change. In the face of increasing livestock numbers, there is a growing need for crop residues that can be utilized as animal feeds. Traditional millet and sorghum varieties have proven inadequate as they lack the desired grain-to-stover ratio for both human and animal nutrition. Additionally, they possess higher lignin content, which reduces digestibility, and may contain tannin, leading to a bitter taste.
Enhance fish farming efficiency with sustainable water systems, reducing resource wastage and ensuring robust fish growth. A recirculatory aquaculture system is a technology where water is recycled after filtration to remove suspended matter. This method is used for higher density culture of fish, allowing for maximum use of limited land and water. Water movement into and out of the tank maintains peak water quality conditions despite dense stocking rates. As water passes into the tank it provides oxygen and when it leaves it carries away waste products. Intensive aquaculture in tanks that operate at high stocking densities is furnished with a flow-through system that discharges water, cleans water, and pumps it back through the system. Tanks with a conventional flow-through systems are simpler in design but require an affordable and reliable source of quality water that can be used with minimal pre-treatment. Recirculatory systems are more complex and costly to install but have higher water use efficiency, higher feed conversion, and more exact disease control.
Revitalize Your Pastures, Sustain Your Livestock Pasture improvement technology managed areas supporting grass and vegetation for grazing animals. Unlike rangelands, pastures receive intensive inputs like fertilizers, seeds, and irrigation. The aim is to maintain the best species and maximize productivity through various approaches, including weed control, partial land disturbance, and strategic planting of improved grasses and legumes. This technology addresses the critical need for affordable and practical feed sources, particularly for small ruminants, ultimately boosting livestock production compared to traditional rangeland management practices. Additionally, the system emphasizes climate-adapted selection of pasture species and encourages sustainable practices to prevent degradation.
Powered Crop Residue Processing for Livestock Feed Enhancement Traditional manual methods limit the utilization of millet and sorghum stem residues for livestock. The mobile processor developed by ICRISAT and partners addresses this issue. It is self-powered, cost-effective, easily transportable, and operated by just two people. This technology enhances resource efficiency, integrating crop and livestock enterprises. It also benefits soil fertility through improved manure production. The machinery is particularly suited for drylands in Sub-Saharan Africa, where feed biomass is scarce due to low rainfall. It can process a variety of materials and is adaptable to different seasons.
From Waste to Resource Peels from bananas and plantains, often overlooked, hold significant value in various applications. They serve as animal feed, organic soil input, and even find uses in cooking, water purification, and beauty products. However, the challenge lies in their chemical composition and nutrient ratios, necessitating proper handling for animal feed and soil treatment. Despite their potential, a lack of awareness about the diverse utility of peels has led to unnecessary waste accumulation in urban areas. Understanding and harnessing the multifaceted benefits of peels is essential for both sustainable agriculture and waste reduction.
Aflatoxin-safe fields and crops for safer food in Africa Aflasafe® technology plays a pivotal role in addressing the critical issue of aflatoxin contamination in Africa. Aflatoxins, produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, are highly toxic and cancer-causing poisons that infest staple crops, animal feeds, and processed foods, posing a severe health threat. Aflasafe®, a biocontrol solution developed in Africa, offers a cost-effective and natural alternative to chemical interventions. By reducing aflatoxin levels in food, Aflasafe® not only safeguards human and livestock health but also mitigates economic impacts, making food safer for consumption and trade, improving overall health, and preserving farm animal well-being. This innovative technology stands as a key strategy to combat the silent aflatoxin pandemic, which is responsible for 30% of liver cancer cases in Africa and weakens individuals against other diseases while also stunting children's growth.
Arica rice, the high yield, disease and stress tolerant rice A new generation of high-performing and locally adapted hybrid rice cultivars has been launched since 2013 through breeding programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, which are known as ARICA varieties. This brand of improved germplasm is the successor to NERICA varieties and provides opportunities to rice farmers and traders on the continent because these new varieties are well adapted to the growing environments and have better grain quality preferred by the local market. ARICA varieties are developed and certified through processes establish by a joint breeding task force which ensures strict quality assurance. Genetically, ARICA varieties are not restricted to interspecific crosses, so any line that shows promise regardless of its origin can be picked up line as long as its performance is convincing. Breeders’ assessments of new lines are backed by field data collected over a number of years. The hybrid rice varieties that were released across Sub-Saharan Africa have proven to be an avenue for boosting the levels of rice productivity and profitability at the base of this major food staple value chain.