The National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State is an agricultural research institute in Nigeria. It conducts research into genetic improvement of economically important root and tuber crops. It also researches crop cultivation techniques, storage, processing and utilization of the crops, concentrating on requirements of farmers in the south-east zone of Nigeria.
National Root Crops Research Institute Mandate and Mission
In line with its national and zonal mandates, the institute has the responsibility of conducting research into:
- Genetic improvement of root and tuber crops of economic importance in Nigeria, such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, sweet potato, irish potato, ginger, rizga, Hausa potato, sugar beets and Turmeric.
- Agronomy of root and tuber crop production including farming systems development for the southeast agro ecology.
- Socio-economic problems related to root and tuber crop production
- Storage, Processing and Utilization of root and tuber crops
- Design and fabrication of simple agricultural farm tools and equipment.
- National Root Crops Research Institute has the zonal mandate for the total farming systems Research and Extension covering the 5 States of the Southeast namely, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa,Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo . It carries out Agricultural Extension Liaison with relevant Federal and State Ministries, Primary agricultural producers, industries and other users of research findings in collaboration with the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS).
- Training of middle level manpower in agriculture leading to award of Ordinary National diploma/Higher National Diploma including vocational training farmers on specialized topics.
Mission Statement
To provide the necessary environment for the production, processing and marketing of value-added products of root and tuber crops towards National food security, income generation, gainful employment and rapid industrial development.
Vision
To reduce poverty and increase food security through the development of relevant and sustainable technologies for stake-holders in root and tuber crops. employment and rapid industrial development.
Its origins can be traced back to an experimental farm established at Moor Plantation, Ibadan on January 1, 1923 by the Nigerian Department of Agriculture. The School of Agriculture was established in 1955, and the two establishments were combined as the Eastern Nigeria Agricultural Research and Training Station (ARTS) in 1956, with headquarters at Enugu. In 1972, the institution assumed federal status as the Federal Agricultural Research and Training Station (FARTS). In 1976 it was renamed the National Root Crops Research Institute, coming under the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria. In 1995, the training wing was split off as the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu.
The institute conducts research into genetic improvement of economically important root and tuber crops such as cassava, yam, cocoyam, sweet potato, Irish potato, ginger, rizga, Hausa potato, sugar beets and Turmeric. It also researches subjects such as crop cultivation techniques, storage, processing and utilization of the crops, concentrating on requirements of farmers in the south-east zone of Nigeria. The institute provides training of middle level agricultural workers, awarding National Diplomas and Higher National Diplomas and providing specialized vocational training to farmers.
The institute has received funding from the Generation Challenge Program and the National Agricultural Research Systems to establish a modern laboratory for research into improvements to cassava genetics using molecular markers. The institute collaborates with other regional research centers through the Southern Africa Root Crops Research Network, funded by USAID.