NCRI using its mandate to checkmate rice and other foods import

The role of National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI) cannot be under estimated in the current winning battle over food importation by the Federal Government through commercial production with improved research technologies for agricultural produce for local consumption and export market especially in rice where an estimation of one billion naira is spent daily before now.

 

The present administration of Mr. President is not in any way pretentious of checkmating excessive naira expended on food importation thereby using value chain approach to enhance commercial agricultural produce through mass transfer  of unused research innovations to enhance production, processing and value addition towards ensuring food security with global standard in terms of practice for better market.

 At the public hearing organized by the Senior Special Adviser to the President, Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina in his score card had rated the performance of the sector very high with attraction of over 500billion naira through Agricultural Transformation Agenda with rice generating 270 billion naira, soy bean attracting 13 billion, sorghum 5 billion, cassava 94 billion etc.

 The NCRI Acting Executive Director, Dr. Lawrence Talabi Ogunremi told Food Farm News at the recently concluded National Agric Show held in Nasarawa that his Institute has positively contributed to the 21 million metric tons food  increased production achievement of the FG through its mandate crops on rice particularly, soybean, Achia, sugarcane and castor through supply of improved varieties of seeds into Growth Enhancement Support (GES) thereby making both dry and raining seasons farming possible in the last two years especially in the rice production where about 62 improved varieties suitable to all ecological zones of the country are released to achieve the past shortfall of 2.5 million metric tons of rice.

Dr. Ogunremi added that many extension research services transfer have been conducted in many parts of the country with example of the recently carried out exercise at Kogi state where farmers are made to know that rice can be grown in every area saying “We are passionate about competitive research and the Institute has done a lot in the area of improved seeds production as most of the seed varieties going into GES are from the Institute. We have released about 62 varieties of rice seeds that are very adaptable to all ecologies in the country. A month ago, we are at Okene, Kogi state, where our extension training exercise was able to convinced farmers in the area that rice can grow in upland areas as they did not know before now. What we have done is our normal transfer of research technologies to farmers”

Looking at the vision and mission of the Institute, one will not be left in doubt that NCRI’s contribution to the sector’s development through generation and dissemination of improved technologies to achieving national self sufficiency in food and industrial material surplus for export with focal mission to ensure cost effect agricultural research with minimal negative effect on the environment is very apparent and evident with present Federal government’s claim of reduction on rice importation due to more local production and processing. 

At the Agric show Exhibition ground, NCRI was also able to convince many stakeholders of its competency towards ensuring availability of improved research technologies that will enhance mass production of rice and all other mandate crops and products of the Institute as many of them were well displayed for enquiry from prospective off takers for commercial multiplication towards creation of job and income earnings for the youths in the country. Already achievement in the area of drought tolerant varieties for sugar estate and rice farmers have been recorded as effort is on going towards checkmating rust problem in soya-bean

Some of the spotted research items conspicuously displayed by NCRI includes rice plus, Rice cheese ball, Rice noodle, Acha Dokawa, SoyGold and Soy Dawadawa, Castor varieties and Castor seed cake, and Brown sugar technology.

The Head, Extension Research Programme, Dr. Isa Kolo and Mr. Danba Nahemial, head, food technology and value addition research programme were able to shed more light on some of the products one after the other.

1.      R ice porridge: is coming from the processed rice breakages that is fortified with cowpea and  bambara groundnut for improved consumers’ nutrition, and it comes in about three packages namely Rice plus for instance and smooth porridge , Rice cheese ball for fast food of snack and Rice Noodles.

2.       Soy-Gold: is a protein concentrate from Soy bean used as beverages like chocolate and all needed technology for commercial production is available at NCRI.

3.       Soy Dawadawa is made from soy- beans fermented condiment to replace maagi cubes and other seasoning items that are mainly use to prepare vegetable and other soups. This item is high in protein and minerals to the benefit of the body.  The needed technology for the fermentation is available as it has been developed by the Institute.

4.       Brown Sugar Technology is also a plus achievement on the part of NCRI, it is a cottage level technology for communities which both the local and states government can harness to empower cooperative farmers into mass production and processing to checkmate imported sugar that have been refined from other countries.

5.      Molasses is a bye product of brown sugar, and it is in high demand by factories and companies producing animal feeds and pharmaceutical drug syrups.

With Federal Government through the Nigeria Custom Service seriously checkmating the influx of foreign processed rice into the country, there is high hope that the demand for improved technologies for standard production, processing and marketing will be on the increase which will require more funding and responsiveness of the Institute for more efficiency as pointed by Dr. Ogunremi who added that the international scientists are not in any way better than the National ones if they are both given the same facilities to work. 

The funding challenges facing Research Institutes in Nigeria does not spare NCRI despite its strategic crops mandate in the ATA  value chains of rice  as the Acting Executive Director pointed that NCRI can do more better in term of competitive research like any other international ones adding the funding and facility must be made available.

He argued that the international scientists are not better than the local ones which he preferred calling national scientists saying” in different fora , I have said there is no difference between our national scientists and international ones. I have worked in an International organization before as an international scientist, I have been telling people that those international scientists are not better that our national scientists which I do not call local scientists.

 The truth about it is that both scientists are not privileged to the same facilities to work as they all went to the same university. If they have all the experiences without materials to work, there is nothing they could do. The experience will be a waste. Another thing is that many scientists are retiring and there is challenge of replacement. It is a problem because we have written for permission for placement which in most cases is delayed thereby creating shortage of staff to replace the retired ones. There are key areas we need scientists because we cannot employ without the normal approval. Presently we are still looking for scientists in the bio technology. If the political will is there Nigeria can produce rice for local and international markets”