Kenya-based International Potato Centre (CIP) has initiated collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, with the purpose of improving the cultivation of potato in the state.

In the same vein, the centre is also collaborating with the office of the state Governor’s wife, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, on a free school meal programme.

This was disclosed during the visit of the CIP Principal Scientist, Dr. Jan Low, to NRCRI for the commissioning of the Screen House for Sustainable Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Pre-Basic Seed Production, donated by CIP to the institute.

The government house, Low accompanied by the NRCRI Sweet Potato programme Coordinator, Dr. Jude Njoku, the governor’s wife sought CIP’s partnership on how to incorporate potato into the state free school meal programme being coordinated by her: “The school free meal programme was introduced to promote and ensure proper dieting and nutrition for the beneficiaries,” she said.

Low further told Ikpeazu that her visit was part of CIP awareness creation promotion for potato and its enormous nutritious benefits that resulted from many researches on the crop.

According to Njoku, their visit would lead to establishing collaboration with the CIP through Low, as well as see what has been done in the state agriculture sector.

Stories by Simon Ugwu