The members of the Steering Committee of
the IITA Cassava Weed Management project unanimous stated that unless the
problem of weed infestation on farmers’ field is addressed, Africa will not
maximize the gains of crop improvement.
The IITA has a new research agenda of
investing in weed science and bringing weed science — a very important but
often neglected component of agronomy— to the front burner, and also supporting
partners in tackling the problem.
“We
thank IITA for the equipment given to us under the Cassava Weed Management
Project to help find solutions to the problems of weeds,” said Dr J.C. Okonkwo,
Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike,
who was also unanimously elected as the Chair of the Steering Committee.
The
IITA and its partners would work to develop state-of the art weed management
practices, by combining improved cassava varieties with proper planting dates,
plant populations and plant nutrition options.
Project
Leader, Cassava Weed Management, Dr Alfred Dixon, says the project is also
focusing on intercropping and tillage research, as well as testing 21 different
pre-emergence and 19 post-emergence herbicides at different application rates
to discover the best combinations for sustainable weed control in cassava.
He
explained that integrated weed management practices, including the use of
herbicides that meet globally accepted conventions and safety thresholds
appropriate for smallholders would be crucial in making weed control in cassava
more efficient and effective.
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The
Project Leader decried farmers’ continuous use of obsolete herbicides despite
their adverse effects on the environment and health.
Dr.
Dixon said the project intended to change the situation by offering farmers
evidence-based information that would help them make better choices.
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