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ICRISAT awarded 2021 Africa Food Prize
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ICRISAT awarded 2021 Africa Food Prize

  1. Newsletter Happenings In-house version 9 Sep 2021, No.1923 ICRISAT has been awarded the 2021 Africa Food Prize, for work that has improved food security across 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2007 and 2019, ICRISAT led a collaboration of partners to deliver the Tropical Legumes Project. The project, undertaken together with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), developed 266 improved legume varieties and almost half a million tons of seed for a range of legume crops, including cowpeas, pigeon peas, chickpea, common bean, groundnut, and soybean. These new varieties have helped over 25 million smallholder farmers become more resilient to climate change, as well as pest and disease outbreaks. In addition to these new varieties, the project trained 52 scientists, who are already working in national research institutes across the continent. Training these next generation scientists in the countries where the projects were implemented, has helped strengthen the research capacity of national agricultural research systems in Africa and contributed to sustaining the gains the projects have made. ICRISAT awarded 2021 Africa Food Prize Congratulating the winner, H E Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chair of the Africa Food Prize Committee and former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: “ICRISAT’s leadership in developing seeds that not only end malnutrition but also survive in semi-arid areas is inspiring other agricultural organizations to rethink seed development and farming practices that suit and solve Africa’s agricultural challenges.” “Their work is also important as it provides an inclusive approach that supports the whole agricultural value chain, from farm to fork, providing farmers with farming tools and a market for their produce,’’ he said. Accepting the award, Dr Jacqueline d’Arros Hughes, ICRISAT Director General, said the Institute’s work spanned the entire value chain, from high-end genomics to markets and agri-business in dryland cropping systems. “We also empower women and attract youth back to agriculture using the latest tools and technologies available to make farming profitable. Dr Rebbie Harawa receiving the Africa Food Prize at the AGRF 2021 Summit. Photo: ICRISAT
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