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National Root Crops Research Institute has taken giant
strides with commendable results. These have earned the
Institute one of the best research institutes in Nigeria
having contributed immensely to the economic
development. The research findings of the Institute have
made Nigeria to become the World’s leading producer of
cassava and
yam with annual production of 33.1 and 19 million
metric tons. The track record has also placed the
Institute in the top position for two years
consecutively in the annual World Food Day.
Some of the notable achievements are;
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Development of yam minisett technique
which has reduced production cost in yam
drastically.
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Development of improved varieties of
cassava, yam, Irish potato and sweet potato which
are disease and pest resistant. Currently 17 cassava
varieties have been released and about 6 new
improved yam varieties are at the point of being
released.
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Effective control of major pests and
diseases in cassava,
yam,
Irish potato and sweet
potato.
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Development of low-cyanide cassava
varieties for the savanna agro ecological zones of
Northern Nigeria.
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Development of cassava, yam, sweet
potato and cocoyam
flour
for baking; cassava odourless fufu, root meal and
pellets for livestock feeds and cocoyam chips as
snacks.
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Development of ginger
micro-propagation technique.
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Development of true potato seed (TPS)
for Irish potato production.
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Development of sweet potato starch
and media for biological uses.
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Development of cassava pedal grater,
stem dipper and chipping machine, cassava farm gate
mash dryer, ginger
slasher.
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Use of organic manures, rice mill
waste, poultry droppings as substitute for inorganic
fertilizer.
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Development of efficient crop
mixtures for root and tuber-based systems that are
socio-economically acceptable and environmentally
sound.
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