The National Root Crops Research Institute, NRCRI, Umudike, Abia State says it has so far trained 250 communities in agricultural business technologies and tips of success.
This effort was made known by Chiedozie Egesi, the Executive Director of the institute during the foundation laying ceremony of the proposed international conference and E-learning centre by the institute.
He noted that the research institute understood the economic situation of the nation and was doing everything to empower Nigerians with the agric-business knowledge to boost food production, as well as reduce poverty to the lowest level.
He praised the visions of President Mohamadu Buhari in agriculture and thanked the Okezie Ikpeazu administration in Abia for providing an enabling environment for the institute to succeed.
Earlier in his keynote address, Prof Sule Ochai from African Development Bank, Abidjan, Cote D’voire emphasized the need for government at levels to equip small scale farmers to enable them enhance their income generation as well as grow the national economy.
Minister of State for science, technology and innovation, Chief Henry Ikoh, who commended the contributions of NRCRI Umudike in agricultural and business innovations, said the institute’s achievements were in tandem with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s policies in economy and industrialization.
The Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe, who was represented by Prof Udo Harbert, said root and crop development was the bedrock to adequate food security and economic advancement.
Iwe emphasized that no nation could grow without adequate food security, and praised the NRCRI for researching and developing different technologies in food and agricultural business.
The Vice Chancellor described the Umudike-based school as a key partner with the Michael Okpara university in research and food production
