Institute for Agricultural Research,
Ahmadu Bello University,
P.M.B 1044
Zaria.
PROF. U. L. ARUNAH
The
legumes and oilseeds research programme at the Institute for Agricultural
Research Ahmadu Bello University (IAR/ABU) is focused on five mandate crops:
Groundnut, Cowpea, Sunflower, Castor and Jatropha. The programme is responsible
for the genetic and agronomic improvement as well as the dissemination of
proven technologies for these crops, which play a major role in the food and
economic security of both smallholder farmers who are the pivot of agricultural
development of Nigeria and other countries with similar economies.
To develop and disseminate proven technologies for optimum
productivity of Groundnut, Cowpea, Sunflower, Castor, and Jatropha.
To provide our stakeholders with technologies that will lead to
improved livelihoods, food and nutritional security.
The
goal of the research programme is to sustainably increase the productivity of
the mandate crops for food and energy security, improve rural livelihoods and
their resilience through a multidisciplinary research approach that is
environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable and alleviates the poverty of
Nigerians.
The
objectives of the legumes and oilseeds research programme at IAR/ABU are:
i) To
develop high-yielding breeding lines and varieties with resistance to major
biotic and abiotic constraints (drought, pests, disease, soil fertility etc.),
militating against the attainment of the genetic potentials of the above legume
and oilseed crops.
ii) To
develop efficient and prudent cultural and management practices via
nutritional, physiological and agronomic factors affecting the production of
legumes and oilseed crops.
iii) To
ensure cost-efficient and labour saving, mechanical and chemical techniques and
facilities for the production of legumes and oilseeds.
iv) Seek
to devise more effective, integrated pest and disease management strategies for
improved production of the legume and oilseeds.
v) To
assess on-farm effectiveness of the technologies developed from the objectives
stated above and to investigate and proffer solutions to the socio-economic
constraints limiting the production of legumes and oilseed crops.
vi)
Research
into the post-harvest technology of the legume and oilseed crops
vii)
Study
any other problems related to the specified legumes and oilseeds.
viii)
Develop
content for the production and dissemination of proven technologies.
