ADDRESS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IAR, PROFESSOR I.U. ABUBAKAR (FASN) AT THE 2016 ANNUAL CROPPING SCHEME MEETING HELD AT THE CONFERENCE HALL, INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, SAMARU ON TUESDAY, 1ST MARCH, 2016

 INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, SAMARU

I am delighted to welcome you to this important annual event of the Institute, the 2016 Annual Cropping Scheme Meeting.
This is a very rare gathering that brings togetherall stakeholders in agriculture, to interact on the research and technologies developed by IAR for economic empowerment and enhanced livelihood.

The 2015 cropping season was quite challenging for us due to paucity of funds. Notwithstanding, we managed with the meagre resources available to us to conduct researches on our mandate crops as well as develop appropriate and affordable technologies. The outcome of the efforts is what we are gathered here today to discuss.

Our research scientists, together with their Technicians and Technologists, conducted different researches covering; genetic improvement of our mandate crops, crop protection, irrigation, farm mechanization, crop production management practices, economics and extension etc. during the last cropping season. 

Ladies and gentlemen, despite dwindling finances, the Institute has projected the University and the country in positive light through developing and releasing two cowpea (beans) varieties SAMPEA 16 and SAMPEA 17, which are striga tolerant, alectra and drought resistant with yields of 2 tonnes per hectare. 

Within the same periodsix maize varieties (SAMMAZ 43, SAMMAZ 44 which are hybrid maize with yields of 9.7t/ha and are boosted with vitamin A to improve human nutrition and SAMMAZ 45 is open pollinated, aflatoxin resistant and yields of 6.2t/ha across all ecologies) were released. SAMMAZ 46, 47 and 48 were released for early maturing, high grain yield, tolerance to drought, striga and low soil nitrogen.Also IAR released two groundnut and three sorghum (guinea corn) varieties. 

The two groundnut varieties are SAMNUT 25 and SAMNUT 26 which are dual purpose varieties both for seed and haulms for animal feed aside their high oil content.The three Sorghum varieties (SAMSORG 44, 45 and 46) are high yielding (4t/ha) and high malting quality which is desirable in production of Beverages such as malt drinks. All the newly released IAR varieties are climate resilient and can be used to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Institute has also made significant progress in the development of Maruca resistant Bt Cowpea and Vitamin A Bio-fortified Sorghum. These efforts no doubt will improve the quality of life of our farming communities. We have alsodeveloped protocols for rapid micro-propagation of pineapple, cryopreservation of groundnut, micro-propagation of sugarcane and protocol for large scale production of Artemisinine (the active ingredient for the treatment of malaria) invitro.

Distinguished guests, I am happy to inform you that the IAR in conjunction with the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has established and commissioned a Biotechnology Research Laboratory (Sugarcane Bio-factory) with capacity to multiply for our farmers millions of disease free sugarcane seedlings in the Institute.

The Institute is implementing various Memoranda of Understanding with National and International bodies towards the improvement of livelihood and income of resource poor Farmers. Plans are under way to sign a memorandum of understanding with Dangote group for industrial uptake of some of our products and for micro-propagation and mass production of sugarcane seedlings. This will be a strategic Research for Development (R4D) initiative.

The Institute has developed simple implements for production, storage and processing of agricultural crops such as single row planter, IAR rotary weeder, straddle row weeder, spike tooth harrow, onion storage rack, maize dehusker/sheller, multi-purpose grinder, vegetable solar dryer, groundnut oil extractors, cereal stalk crushers and IAR multi-crop thresher with capacity to thresh sorghum, millet and soybean. 

As part of efforts to stimulate uptake and adoption of technologies generated by the Institute,We have expanded our Agricultural Research Outreach Centres (AROCs) from four in the previous year to six in the current season. The Institute now has three Adopted Schools, (Government Girls Secondary School, Samaru, Government Secondary School, Bomo and Government Secondary School, Hunkuyi) and three Adopted villages at Jaja, TudunMuntsira and Dutsen Abba where IAR technologies are being demonstrated to farmers and students. Some of our technologies taken to these centres include SAMMAZ 14 and 17, SAMSORG 17 and SAMPEA 7. Plans are underway to expand the scope of the adopted schools and villages from the present six to eight centres given adequate funding by the agency responsible for Adopted Villages Programme.

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the desire of the Buhari Administration to change and transform Nigerian economy from oil based to agriculture based is taken seriously in IAR. We are posed to support the agricultural programme of the government through quality research in our mandate commodities and states. 

The Institute will proffer training of farmers in modern production of cotton, maize, groundnut, cowpea and sorghum to reduce the yield gap between research and production at farmers’ fields. The institute is posed to produce crop varieties and appropriate production technologies, within the constraints of our climate, that will make our agriculture compete in the global markets and ensure stable and sustainable food security for our country.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, as we rub minds together, it is my ardent believe that this forum will chart a new course and set the agenda for agricultural developmentin Nigeria. I therefore wish to call on all stakeholders particularly, on our traditional leaders and Local Government Officials to serve as the springboard for revamping agriculture in their various communities. 

The only means to curbing youth restiveness and gainful employment is to revert to our traditional heritage that is agriculture. In IAR, we have a long standing tradition of evolving research projects and developing technologies that are economically, environmentally, socially viable and farmer friendly. This has over the years been our thrust to ensure our immediate communities benefit from the research results emanating from our Institute. 

To our neighbouring and immediate communities, I urge you to explore all available channels to access these technologies which are at your door step. Our doors as a service oriented organization are open to you for discussions on issues bordering your farming challenges. I assure you that our staff and scientists are willing to assist you with technical information and expertise on new technologies emanating from the institute at no cost.

Once again, on behalf IAR Management, I warmly welcome you to the 2016 Cropping Scheme Meeting.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you very fruitful and rewarding deliberations.