Promoting Tuber Crops Cultivation For Food Security

By most accounts, the current Federal Government has been making concerted efforts to check the downturn in the Nigerian economy over the last few years.

Analysts note that the government’s efforts in that direction are encapsulated in its seven-point development agenda, of which the attainment of food security in Nigeria remains a prominent feature. 

However, since efforts to revamp the agricultural sector of the national economy started, more emphasis has been placed on boosting the cultivation of root and tuber crops.

Observers, nonetheless, insist that considerable attention should be given to research and extension projects in root and tuber crops cultivation to enhance private-sector participation, as the country moves forward in plans to attain food security.

The argument appears justifiable, as Nigeria has for a long time remained the world’s largest producer of cassava, yam and cocoyam with total annual production of 45, 32, and five million metric tonnes respectively.

Mr Kenneth Nwosu, Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, said that the technologies developed by the institute have contributed immensely to the current rating of Nigeria in global production of the crops.

The NRCRI chief made the assertion at the 2010 Annual Research Review and Planning Workshop of the institute recently held in Umudike, Abia State. 

Nwosu said that NRCRI has developed “True Potato Seeds’’, noting that the technology has reduced production costs by over 35 per cent, while boosting potato production in the country from 53,000 metric tons in 1975 to over 75,000 metric tons in 2007.

He said that the NRCRI efforts have also aided the expansion of potato-producing areas from Plateau and Kaduna states to Sokoto, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Borno and Cross River states.

On cassava, Nwosu said that between 2001 and 2003, the NRCRI, in collaboration with International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), developed and distributed seven “white yam’’ hybrid of 29 cassava varieties to farmers.

He said that 12 new varieties were released to farmers between 2003 and 2009. 

“It is heartwarming to inform you that the NRCRI is currently working with the Nassarawa State Government and a UK-based company to start exporting yams to European Union (EU) countries,’’ he said, adding that the value of the business was about 200 U.S. dollars.

The agricultural expert, however, noted that over 98 per cent of the cassava produced in Nigeria was consumed locally, leaving an insignificant proportion for export.

“To satisfy the cassava requirements of Nigeria and have excess for exports, there must be a quantum leap in cassava production in the country,’’ he said, adding that the national cassava output was currently about 45 million metric tonnes.

The NRCRI, according to Nwosu, will be able to boost cassava and potato production in the country through its development of various varieties of cassava cuttings and potato seeds via bio-technology.

Nwosu said that cassava production in the country would significantly improve when the traditional cassava varieties existing in the farming system were replaced by the improved varieties.

He noted that the yield of the improved varieties was 60 per cent more than that of the local varieties, in addition to its resistance to pests and diseases.

“The good news is that the NRCRI joined a research consortium called ‘Bio-Cassava Plus’, which involves advanced laboratories in Africa, the U.S. and Europe,’’ he said.

Nwosu stressed that the project, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has within three years been able to achieve and even surpass its set goals. 

“For instance, the Bio-Cassava Plus has developed 20-30x pro-Vitamin A enriched cassava variety, as against the projected 10x,’’ he added.

Besides, the project has been able to develop cassava varieties with high iron and high protein content and as indicated by Nwosu, the varieties were currently undergoing field tests by the institute. 

“In the next three to four years, this quadruple content cassava will be distributed to the farmers and with that, the farmers will be empowered. 

“With this type of variety we are introducing, our annual cassava production will be doubled, while we will have enough harvests for local consumption and excess for exports,” he said.

Nwosu stressed that when the feat would have been achieved, Nigeria would regain its position as the world’s largest cassava producer and overtake Thailand, which currently produces about 80 million metric tonnes of cassava yearly. 

The agricultural scientist, nonetheless, noted that the projected feat might not be achievable “unless the various Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) of the states are strengthened because the ADPs are closer to the farmers”.

“The constraint we have now is how to get these materials to the rural farmers because this is a very large country.

“That is why NRCRI is seeking collaboration with the various state ADPs and through the collaboration, we will be able to touch the lives of farmers in the rural areas,” Nwosu said.   

However, a major constraint to the fulfilment of the venture is the paucity of funds. Nwosu, while noting that the NRCRI’s capital and overhead funds were somewhat inadequate, urged the Federal Government to allocate more funds to the institute.

He particularly advocated the setting up of an intervention fund to facilitate the prompt transformation of the NRCRI into a centre of excellence in root and tuber crops research in Africa.

“Time has come when the quantum of funds’ appropriation should reflect performance and output of the institutions to the national economy,’’ Nwosu opined.   

Rep. Gbenga Makanjuola, the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture, said that the achievements of NRCRI in the application of bio-technology had made it imperative for the establishment of a modern bio-technology centre in the country. 

The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to use some of the resources in the Special Intervention Fund to establish a modern research and bio-technology centre for agricultural activities.

“Now that Nigerians have seen the wisdom of using bio-technology in agriculture with the modest achievements of the NRCRI in that regard, I believe that such centre should be established in Umudike to enhance the institute’s efforts.   

“The importance of research to development cannot be over-stressed. The centre, when established, will be the brain behind research programmes in agriculture. 

“When the centre is established, bio-technology will also be transferred to the rural farmers, who are the end users, and our agricultural production will be boosted,’’ Makanjuola said. 

Mr Parry Nyagaiti of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) noted that the NRCRI has been able to make a positive impact on the lives of farmers and the citizens at large.

“Today, even farmers in the extreme northern fringes of the country with their semi-arid ecologies are now capable of growing crops like cassava and cocoyam,’’ he said.  Nyagaiti noted that the production of root and tuber crops has improved significantly in Nigeria, adding that in spite of the rapidly growing population and the massive rural-urban movement of the people, adequate crops are being produced to meet rising demands of the citizenry.

Prof. Ray Unamma of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, said that rural farmers should be provided with adequate technical information on root and tuber crops production.

The don noted that the current low production and export of root and tuber crops could be attributed to some constraints, including those relating to the low level of technological transfer. 

“No matter what we do, the donor agencies and non-governmental organisations cannot build our country for us.

“Therefore, the government must be greatly involved in training extension farmers who will, in turn, train farmers in modern farming techniques,” Unamma said.

Acha writes for NAN. 

Emmanuel Acha