Tinubu, others commend NRCRI’s centenary anniversary 

As Experts Re-echo Importance Of Root And Tuber Crops To Food Security
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, experts and stakeholders in agricultural research, agri-business, farming and allied enterprises have lauded the feats recorded by the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI ) in Umudike, Abia State, as the institute marks its centenary anniversary.

During the anniversary, tagged: “NRCRI: A Century of Empowerment Through Root and Tuber Crops Research,” the stakeholders corroborated President Bola Tinubu’s acknowledgment that the NRCRI has for the past century sustained innovative measures that boosted root and tuber crops.

The institute, which took off on January 1, 1923 as a British Colonial Provincial Experimental farm under the Colonial Nigeria Department of Agriculture with headquarters at Moor Plantation Ibadan, Oyo State, was renamed in 1975 and assigned national statutory mandate to conduct research into the generic improvement, production, storage, processing, utilisation and socio-economics of Root and Tuber Crops of economic importance namely yam, cassava, potato, sweet potato, cocoyam.

Speaking during the kick-off of the anniversary, President Tinubu acknowledged commendable achievements of the NRCRI past leaderships and the current Chief Executive Officer, Professor Chiedozie Egesi who came on board a year ago.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Agriculture and Agri-business, Dr Kingsley Uzoma, the President noted that Professor Egesi’s competence was recently publicly acknowledged by other researchers and professors across the globe in the USA at an event in which Nigeria’s Vice President, Dr Kashim Shettima attended.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said NRCRI has, during the 100 years, been at the forefront of research, providing sustainable solutions and empowering farmers through the development of improved varieties, efficient production techniques and value addition to root and tuber crops.

In his address, Professor Egesi who was conferred with the Fellowship of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (FASN) during the celebration, and the NRCRI’s 12th Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, told the large audience that NRCRI’s mission is to provide necessary improved technologies that would enhance total value chain development of root and tuber crops towards attaining national food security, income generation, gainful employment and industrial development.

In doing so, he said the NRCRI operates seven sub-stations located across the country namely – Kuru in Plateau state, Otobi in Benue, Igbariam in Anambra, Nyanya/Karu, FCT/ Nassarawa, Maro/Kajuru in Kaduna, Iresi in Osun and Gassol in Taraba.

The Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, which coordinates Nigeria’s agricultural Research Institutes, Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu in his address delivered by Professor Veronica Obatolu, said despite the various tremendous NRCRI achievements, the farmers in most states are not benefiting so much from these empowerments and breakthroughs, due to the fact that over 75 per cent of the farmers are still planting old varieties of Cassava and Yam.

According to him, President Tinubu’s administration recognises the need for collaboration between research Institutions, farmers and policy makers to achieve sustainable food security and has committed to providing the necessary support to research institutions like the NRCRI to enable them continue their valuable works.