The Oyo State Government is set to partner with the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the world’s largest publicly funded agrifood research network and its partner center, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), to advance the state’s cassava and cocoa value chains.
The collaboration was announced following a meeting with the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde and other key state officials, including Debo Akande, the Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), and Bayo Lawal, the Senior Executive Assistant on General Duties.
The Chief Scientist of CGIAR, Sandra Milach, alongside the Deputy Director-General of IITA, Bernard Vanlauwe, noted that Oyo State possesses immense agricultural potential. Having already invested heavily in local processing and value addition, the state stands to benefit significantly from this partnership, which aims to develop comprehensive development plans for both vital crops.
Speaking with journalists after the session, Milach explained that the partnership will enable Oyo State, as a leading producer of cassava and a state with strong cocoa potential, to pinpoint critical areas of need, identify existing systemic bottlenecks, and deploy targeted scientific solutions.
She emphasized that CGIAR will work hand-in-hand with the state government to help the processing industry encourage farmers to adopt higher-yielding crop varieties. This end-to-end integration is designed to guarantee food security, expand agribusiness networks, and ultimately improve the livelihoods of local farmers.
Corroborating her statement, Vanlauwe stated that because the IITA possesses extensive expertise in both cassava and cocoa cultivation, the agency has agreed to co-develop actionable plans alongside Governor Makinde to accelerate growth in both sectors.
Earlier in her remarks, Milach described CGIAR’s broader mission as a global public goods organization focused on transforming global food, land, and water systems.
She highlighted the African continent as a primary focus area for creating long-term food security and praised Oyo State’s leadership for aligning with these global agricultural transformation goals.
Addressing the specific issues facing local farmers and agribusiness investors, Milach pointed out that deploying technology is only effective when structural challenges are addressed.
The partnership will systematically analyze whether current bottlenecks lie within processing capacities, infrastructure, or rural transport networks.
The initiative also aims to bridge the gap between supply and demand. By ensuring that farmers cultivate the exact varieties required by processing industries, the collaboration seeks to secure reliable, sustainable markets for agricultural produce, ensuring that farmers do not grow crops that market realities cannot absorb.
The visiting delegation was led by Simeon Ehui, the Director-General of IITA-CGIAR, and included other prominent agricultural experts, such as Tahirou Abdoulaye, Ibnou Deng, and Toyin Oke.