Root and tuber food crops research in Cameroon

The project will: (1) develop domestically acceptable varieties of cocoyam that are resistant to root rot and blight complex; (2) develop technically and economically feasible rapid seedstock multiplication methods for yam, cassava, and cocoyam systems; (3) study the nature and magnitude of post harvest losses of roots/tubers, the processing and utilization constraints on root/tuber systems, and recommended researchable problems and opportunities for improving these systems; and (4) assist in the institutional development of IRA in roots and tubers research. Under the institutional development component, A.I.D. will finance: (1) 132 person-months of long-term and 35 person-months of short-term TA; (2) a training program which will include academic training for 6 Cameroonians (4 to the M.S. and 2 to the Ph.D. level), short-term third-country specialized training for 6 others, a series of in-country workshops, and three short-term research fellowships in the United States. A.I.D. will also finance the establishment of a tissue culture laboratory to support seed stock multiplication and agronomic research. The prime contractor will be the University of Maryland Eastern Shor, with Alabama A&M and Florida A&M Universities as subcontractors.