The Executive Secretary, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro made the call in a paper detailing the necessity of Research for Development in the Agriculture Sector:
He noted that multi-commodity value chain agricultural research institutes have the responsibility to lead innovation and research in food and cash crops across the country.
He explained that the institute could attain global competitiveness through research in the agricultural sector of the economy if it pioneers the implementation of researches that could cause engineer economic growth.
“The core mandates of Research and Training of IAR&T should be leveraged to lead Nigeria’s agricultural sector towards becoming the pivotal sector of the new knowledge economy.
“It is worthy of note that the traditional outputs of agricultural activities include food for humans, feed for animals, raw materials for industries, job/income for the citizens and revenue for the government. The rejuvenation of these outputs using R&D tools will reposition IAR&T as a national and global reference institute,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede expressed appreciation to Prof. Bogoro for accepting the invitation to deliver a lecture on the importance of research and diversification at the Institute.
The Director of IAR&T, Prof. Veronica Obatolu on her part noted that the desire for the diversification of Nigeria’s economy from mono-productivity can only be achieved through research-driven value chain development in agriculture.
