Abuja: The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has honoured Nigerian researcher, Dr Mercy Elohor Diebiru-Ojo, for winning the 2025 Africa Food Prize due to her groundbreaking use of Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology in the propagation of cassava and yam seedlings. The announcement was made earlier this month during the Africa Food Systems Forum in Dakar, Senegal, where Dr Diebiru-Ojo was named a laureate alongside Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango from Kenya.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the Africa Food Prize is considered the continent’s most prestigious recognition for agricultural innovation and includes a cash prize of US$100,000, which is shared between the two recipients. The SAH technology is crucial for the rapid multiplication of cassava and yam varieties, offering farmers clean, disease-free, and robust planting materials. This innovation is suitable for all cassava and yam varieties, helping to address persistent challenges in seed systems.
During a press briefing in Abuja, IITA Director General, Dr Simeon Ehui, described the achievement as a landmark moment for African agriculture. He emphasized the significance of Dr Diebiru-Ojo’s work in transforming how Africa multiplies and distributes clean planting materials to farmers. Dr Ehui praised her leadership in advancing SAH node culture for cassava and yam, describing it as a method that significantly lowers risk and shortens the time to field while strengthening seed systems.
Dr Diebiru-Ojo acknowledged the support of IITA, CGIAR, and other stakeholders in her research journey. She explained how the technology was first adapted for cassava and later extended to yam, emphasizing its importance in providing farmers with access to improved varieties. She noted that the technology addresses a major bottleneck in farmers’ access to quality planting materials, which is crucial for improving productivity and livelihoods.
Showcasing samples of the SAH seedlings, Dr Diebiru-Ojo highlighted the scalability and replicability of the technology, which is now available in over 15 African countries. Her recognition as an Africa Food Prize laureate is expected to enhance food systems, boost farmer productivity, and contribute significantly to agricultural transformation across the continent.