The National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) in Umudike, Abia State, concluded its two-day 2025 Annual Review and Planning Workshop on April 10, stressing the need to sustain agricultural practices centered on root and tuber crops to address Nigeria’s food security challenges.
The workshop, themed “A Sustainable Future for Nigeria’s Agriculture: Focus on Root and Tuber Crop,” gathered researchers, farmers, and stakeholders to discuss solutions to global and local food demands.
NRCRI Executive Director Professor Chiedozie Egesi, in his opening address, reviewed the institute’s work, stating, “It is evident that we (NRCRI) made remarkable strides in advancing agricultural research and development across Nigeria and Africa, particularly in the root and tuber crops subsector and our collaboration with diverse partners, aligned with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Food and Nutrition Security, poverty alleviation and wealth creation in Nigeria, has yielded significant milestones.”
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by Abia State Coordinator Dr. Aloysius Mba, opened the workshop, urging collaboration across sectors.
He said, “Research must continue to find innovative solutions, such as developing drought-resistant varieties and employing sustainable farming practices that can withstand the various shocks we face,” addressing challenges like climate change, pests, population growth, and shifting dietary patterns.
The workshop highlighted the potential of High Quality Cassava Peel (HQCP) as a livestock feed alternative, noting its economic and gender equity benefits.
Participants, including past NRCRI leaders and retired directors, recommended promoting integrated pest management, organic farming, and agroecological methods to reduce agrochemical use and enhance food safety.
They also advocated for financial and technical support to scale HQCP initiatives, particularly for women, and partnerships among academic, research, and industry bodies to develop solutions like biopesticides from root and tuber crops.
Further recommendations included using nanocellulose from agricultural waste to improve soil nutrient retention, training farmers on cassava peel processing, and launching awareness campaigns to promote HQCP and sustainable feed alternatives while developing market pathways for livestock feed producers.
Dr. Chris Dimkpa from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station delivered the keynote paper, stating that “to address the global food insecurity arising from increasing food demand, agricultural production must increase by 70-100% by 2050 due to population growth.” Dr. Iheanacho Okike from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture presented on HQCP, noting its role in addressing feed scarcity and potentially generating 200,000 jobs.
Goodwill messages came from Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, represented by Commissioner for Agriculture Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, as well as representatives from the Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, IITA Ibadan, Sahel Consulting, and HRM Eze Ben Oriaku, Chairman of the Land donor of NRCRI Umudike.
The discussions underscored the need for collective action to align with initiatives like the Federal Government’s Green Imperative Project for sustainable agriculture and food security.
