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Policymakers meet for the Development of Root Crops

By Afolabi Ogunde on October 2, 2012

Agric Minister, Akinwunmi Adesina

Stakeholders working on root and tuber crops (RTCs), across the world are meeting at the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria, to converse and share knowledge on new advancements, build partnership, and extend policies that will add to sustainable development.

Tropical root and tuber crops are necessary to meeting universal food security as well as nourishing the income of millions of people. Independently, cassava, potato, sweet potato, and yam rank among the most significant food crops globally and, regarding annual revenue, cassava, potato, and sweet potato serves as one of the highest revenue yielding mechanism for developing countries.

The event is scheduled to last for 1 week, with the theme; “The Roots (and Tubers) of Development and Climate Change’ was organised by the International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC) as part of the society’s 16th triennial symposia”.

According to Prof. Lateef Sanni of FUNAAB, the chair of the local organising committee, limitations such as low yield, inadequate benefit, and climate change are still inadequately addressed.

He said, “climate change, particularly, gives both prospects and disadvantages for reaching the prospective input of RTCs for sustainable human improvement, and policies are needed to address important issues in output, crop plant-soil/water/energy resources management, post-harvest operation, nutrition and health value addition, and trade and commercialization So that the position of RTCs in guarantying sustainable development could be attained.

“This year’s symposium provides an opportunity for experts from around the world to meet and address this agenda.”

On the other hand, the Director of Research for West Africa at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Dr. Robert Asiedu. Said, “We see the event as an excellent platform for drawing the way forward for RTCs.”

The occasion is to serve as an exceptional platform for communication among scientists working on all tropical root and tuber crops (sweet potato, cassava, potato, Andean roots and tubers, yam, and aroids) from different conditions and from around the world to share knowledge.

Now, more than 200 delegates from 32 countries will attend. Nigeria’s Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina will deliver the keynote address. In addition, the Director General of IITA, Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, is expected to be one of the speakers at the event.

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