Products Development Research

Dr. Maimuna Abdulmalik

INTRODUCTION:

The Programme is to significantly assess the suitability of some mandate crops of IAR for further industrial processing. The Programme has since inception developed technologies for good and efficient processing of composite products from maize, millet, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut. In continuation of the Programme mandate, new products were developed from Jatropha, castor, sunflower and cotton.

The mandates of the Product Development Research Programme (PDRP) remain as follows:

1. To determine the nutritional and biological value of some IAR mandate crops such as cereals, grain legumes, horticultural and oil crops. The mandate crops include: Cotton, Maize, Cowpea, Sorghum, Groundnut, Sunflower, Castor and Jatropha.

Characterization of IAR Released Crop Varieties:

1. Proximate Analysis:

• Protein
• Carbohydrate (Digestible)
• Carbohydrate (Soluble)
• Lipid/Fat/Oil
• Moisture
• Ash
• Fibre

2. Anti-nutrients/Phytochemicals

• Phenolics
• Lectins
• Saponins
• Tannins
• Phytate
• Cyanide
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
• Oxalates
• Alkaloids
• Trypsin Inhibitor

3. Oil Quality

• Iodine
• Saponification Number
• Ester Value
• Peroxide Value
• Acid Value
• Free Fatty Acid

4. Vitamins:

• Beta Carotene
• Vitamin C

5. Physical Properties:

• Bulk Density
• Water Absorption Capacity
• Oil Holding Capacity
• Swelling Capacity
• PH/Conductivity
• Gelatibility
• Viscosity

2. To assess the suitability of some of the selected crops for further (industrial) processing and to improve the technology of local food processing.

Composite Technologies:

Development and nutritional assessment of composite flour. The Programme developed composite products using IAR improved crop varieties such as:

• Maize, Sorghum, Groundnut, Cowpea based composite flour for production of crisps, Cookies, Meat-pies, Doughnut and Chin-chin with upto 50% inclusion rate.
• Maize and Sorghum Spaghetti and Pasta production using (20-50%) composite inclusion rate.

3. To monitor foods and feeds for toxic contaminants.

In order to achieve the mandates, the Programme sub-divided the projects into the following:

1. Legumes and Oil Crops
2. Horticultural Crops
3. Processing Technologies
4. Packaging

JUSTIFICATION

Mandate crops production with progress in crop production development of improved varieties, recently, Jatropha and Artemisia were included in the crops. Utilization of these crops, have remained at the domestic level. However, it is known that these crops have the potentials of providing value added products and higher industrial value, capable of poverty alleviation, food security, income and employment generation, deriving industrialization for the country. It is therefore, important to expand utilization through the development of noble products such as Cowpea Strips, Cowpea Tea Cakes, Cowpea Cookies, Maize-cowpea Snacks, Cowpea-Sorghum flour, Peanut Butter Spread, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cakes, Peanut Butter Cookiescereal flakes, etc. to derive the production of these crops through the development and deployment of crop value added technologies for national growth.

OUR GOALS

We aim to strategically conduct product research that will contribute to increased agricultural productivity and nutrition quality, sustainable food security, economic development, innovation and quality services deliverance.

Our operations and collaborations gives us greater opportunities to be strategic and to function well as a product research Programme.

OUR VALUES

• We are committed to bridge the gap between Agriculture and industry for improved nutrition and poverty alleviation.
• We promote and create value for use and cultivation of IAR mandate crops.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The activities of the Programmes are therefore organized under the following projects and sub-projects structure (Figure 1):

PROGRAMME

RESEARCH QUALITY CONTROL COMMITTEE: (2017- to Date)

RESEARCH TEAM:

Aba, D.A.                               -           Sorghum Breeder (Plant Science)

Abubakar, I.U.                        -           Agronomist (Agronomy)                    

Ado, S.G.                                -           Breeder (Plant Science)

Abdulsalami, Z.                      -           Agric. Economist (Agric. Econs. & Rural Sociology)              

Adeyanju, A.                          -           Breeder (Plant Science)

Amans, E. Bako                      -           Agronomist (Agronomy)

Arunah, U.L.                           -           Agronomist (Agronomy)

Amapu, I.Y.                            -           Soil Scientist (Soil Science)                           

Abdulmalik, M.M.                  -           Physiologist (Plant Science)               

Ameh, I.D.                              -           Biochemist (Biochemistry)

Alhaji Umar, Ismaila               -           Biochemist (Biochemistry)

Agubosi, O.P.                         -           Animal Science

Bamaiyi, L.J.                           -           Sorghum Entomologist (Crop Protection)

Bawa, G.S.                              -           Animal Scientist (Animal Science)

Bugaje, S.M.                           -           Physiologist (Plant Science)                           

Babaji, B.A.                            -           Agronomist (Agronomy)       

Chindo, P.S                             -           Crop Protectionist (Crop Protection)

Chiezey, U.F.                          -           Agronomist (Agronomy/FSRP)                     

Ishiyaku, M.F.                         -           Cowpea Breeder (Plant Science)                   

James, B.D.                             -           Biochemist (Biochemistry)

Kura, H.N.                              -           Agronomist (Agronomy)                               

Kuchinda, N.C.                           -           Agronomist (Agronomy)

Mohammed S.G.                     -           Groundnut Breeder (Plant Science)

Musa, M.N.                             -           Rural Sociologist (Agric. Econs.)