IAR renames cropping scheme, holds annual meeting March 28th-30

Executive Director of the institute, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar

The Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, ABU, Zaria has changed the popularly known Cropping Scheme to Annual Research Review and Planning Meeting, and this year’s maiden edition under this new name will come up between March 28^th-30 while the Zonal REFILs follows immediately.

This new name, said the Executive Director of the institute, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar was necessary so as to really reflect the purpose of the meeting in the agricultural cropping planning for the New Year towards food security, adding that all arrangement to ensure this is already ongoing.

Prof. Abubakar pointed out that the meeting would look into the last year crops’ performance along the mandate ecological zones of the Institute considering all aspects of research technologies towards the 2017 planting seasons as rain is about to start. 

The Head of extension unit of the Institute, Dr. A.I Sharifai said that the invitation for the programme would soon be sent out to all scientists, researchers, ADPs and other research Institutes, and notification of the changed.

OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS at the 2016 IAR, ABU, Samaru Zaria Cropping Scheme and REFILs ( Research Extension Farmers Input- linkages System)

Deliberations at the twin meetings highlighted the importance of agricultural research and extension for sustainable agricultural development, food security and economic growth in Nigeria.

The participantsobserved that:

1.                   Positive posture of present administration towards according agricultural research and food production the deserved attention

2.                   Low level of funding for agricultural research and extension in the country especially at state level.

3.                   Good quality research and extension services provided by Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) to farmers and other clients

4.                   Weak linkages and collaboration between some NARIs on one hand and between NARIs and International Research Institutes on the  another  hand

5.                   There is overlap on national mandates for research on crops such as sunflower and castor.

6.                   High costs of agricultural inputs especially fertilizer and its adverse effects on crop production.

7.                   Inadequate monitoring /enforcement of agricultural inputs (seeds & agrochemical) legislation in the country which leads to existence of adulterated inputs

Consequently the meeting and workshop recommended:

i.                     Harmonization/ Unification of various e-extension models in the country

ii.                   The need for enlightenment of seed companies and other stakeholders on the need to maintain quality seeds for sustainable crop production.

iii.                  Review of IAR mandate crops to cover more than North-West zone because IAR research outputs are used by farmers in other regions of the country.

iv.                 Increase funding for research and extension to IAR in particular and other NARIs and ADPs in general so that research and extension can be carried out effectively.

v.                   Repackaged GES to be more effective and increase the quantity of fertilizer bags from 2 to 4 or 5 per farmer.

vi.                 Enforcement of agricultural inputs legislation especially seeds and pesticides to eradicate adulteration in the market

In order to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts, a call has been made for the strengthening of collaboration and linkages among agricultural research institutes and the institution for proper monitoring and evaluation of research activities using various indicators (input, process, output, outcome etc.) in the country.