The revised version of the Handbook of West African Weeds is a tool that will help farmers to identify and tackle the different species of weeds in the region, researchers say today.
The new edition has 52 additional new weed species, and 53 weed seedlings, and it builds on the earlier work done in the first and second edition while filling the gaps created by the emergence of new weed species in West Africa.
The revised edition, which was put together by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture managed Cassava Weed Management Project, seeks to assist farmers, agricultural extension agents and other agriculturists as well as institutions of learning that are faced with the practical need to learn and identify common weeds in West Africa.
Launched by the Senior Program Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lawrence Kent, during the annual review and work planning meeting of the IITA–Cassava Weed Management Project; the weed book is a must-have tool for stakeholders in cassava who are confronted with the problem of weed control.
The launch of the book on 27 March 2017 was part of IITA activities to mark the 50th anniversary.