By Mahdi Waziri Isa
Zaria, Nigeria – April 23, 2025
The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has officially opened its 2025 Annual Research Review and Planning Meeting (ARRPM) and Zonal REFILS Workshop at the Balarabe Tanimu Conference Hall.
Under the theme, “Advancing Agricultural Innovation for Food Security and Economic Prosperity: Aligning Research with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Enhancing Agricultural Outreach with Digital Tools and Technologies,” the event serves as a strategic platform to evaluate research progress, refine methodologies, and align initiatives for sustainable agricultural development.
Breakthroughs in Crop Research and Farmer Empowerment
In his opening address, Professor Ado A. Yusuf, Director of IAR, highlighted the institute’s remarkable achievements over the past year, including the development of high-yield, climate-resilient crop varieties. Key milestones include:
– Release of SAMMAZ 76, a stress-tolerant maize variety with a yield potential of 10.3 tons/ha, resistant to Striga hermonthica, drought, and fall armyworm.
– Registration of nine new crop varieties (six maize hybrids and three barley lines) in collaboration with National Animal Research Institute (NAPRI) and Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI).
– Distribution of disease-free seedlings, including 5,000 ginger plants to the Kaduna State Government and tissue-cultured banana and pineapple seedlings to farmers in adopted villages.
Additionally, IAR, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, provided farm inputs to over 4,000 smallholder farmers across eight states, reinforcing its commitment to practical, farmer-centric solutions.
Ambitious 2025 Targets: Irrigation Expansion and Digital Farming
Professor Yusuf outlined IAR’s 2025 strategic priorities, which include:
– Expanding the Samaru Research Farm dam from 8.6 hectares to 25 hectares, increasing water storage capacity to 500,000 cubic meters to support 50 hectares of irrigable land.
– Executing 180+ research projects and 32 prioritized activities aimed at enhancing productivity and farmer livelihoods.
– Scaling up digital agriculture, including drone technology, smart farming systems, and blockchain-based solutions to attract youth and minimize waste.
“By investing in digital infrastructure and training, Nigeria can position itself as Africa’s leader in 21st-century farming,” Yusuf asserted.
“These innovations maximize yields, ensure profitability, and make agriculture appealing to the next generation.”
Strengthening Outreach Through Technology and Collaboration
IAR’s Adopted Villages Programme and digital extension services have amplified farmer engagement, ensuring research translates into real-world impact. The institute continues to collaborate with government agencies, research bodies, and local communities to drive sustainable agricultural growth.
The 2025 ARRPM and Zonal REFILS Workshop will run until Thursday, 24th April, 2025, featuring expert panels, strategy sessions, and demonstrations of cutting-edge agritech solutions.
VC Kabiru Bala Charge FG and State Govts to Support Agricultural Research
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Kabiru Bala described Agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and a vital component of food security and rural livelihoods.
He emphasized that the role of research in agriculture has never been more critical than today, as the world is facing climate challenges, population growth and technological shifts.
“Most, if not all of the improved maize, groundnut, cowpea and sorghum varieties grown in Nigeria and neighbouring countries originated from IAR,” Professor Bala educated.
He described the annual event as “an opportunity to share findings, examine challenges and identify innovative solutions that can directly benefit farmers, improve productivity and ensure environmental sustainability.”
Professor Bala also called on the Federal Government, State Governments and Private Sectors to continue funding agricultural research in various Nigerian research institutes and universities as it is the springboard of any meaningful national development. “A food secured nation is a politically secured one,” he stressed.
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