Opportunity Crop Programme

Operational for over a decade, the Opportunity Crop Programme (ORCP) [formerly referred to as the Minor Root Crops Research Programme (MRCRP)] is one of the Institute’s seven commodity crop research programmes. The programme is responsible for developing technologies to improve minor root crops of economic importance in Nigeria.

Following exploratory trips across all 36 states of Nigeria, the Institute collected extensive indigenous knowledge on the production and utilization of these crops. This data was successfully used to delineate the country’s growing areas for minor root and tuber crops.

Target Crops

• Livingstone potato (Plectranthus esculenta N.E. Br)
• Hausa or Frafra potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius)
• Polynesian arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides Kuntze), locally known as “Amora”
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa L)
• American Yam Bean (Pachyrhizus ahipa)
• Other underutilized, economically important minor root crops.

Programme Goals

As a subset of the Institute’s overall mission, the ORCP aims to develop and promote underutilized root and tuber species into mainstream commodity crops. This shift targets food security, poverty alleviation, improved healthcare delivery, and economic growth in Nigeria.

Research activities focus on:

• Building information databases through indigenous knowledge.
• Exploring and collecting germplasm.
• Improving crops via conventional and biotechnology techniques.
• Developing cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and socio-culturally acceptable production technologies.

Key Achievements

Since its inception, the programme has recorded significant milestones across several domains:

Germplasm Collection & Plant Breeding

• Explored and collected local germplasms of minor root and tuber crops across Nigeria.
• Acquired a diverse collection of accessions: 45 of turmeric, 19 of Hausa potato, 19 of Polynesian arrowroot, and 13 of Livingstone potato.
• Acquired 29 sugar beet accessions (15 from the USA and 14 from Germany).
• Identified 10 potential turmeric varieties, currently undergoing accelerated multi-location trials prior to farmer release.
• Successfully domesticated Polynesian arrowroot using the true seed technique.

Agronomy & Research

• Mapped the specific production areas of minor root crops in Nigeria.
• Built an informational database on endangered root and tuber crops using indigenous knowledge (covering production, processing, marketing, and utilization) to guide technological interventions.
• Developed environmentally friendly and socio-culturally acceptable agronomic packages tailored to Nigeria’s main agro-ecological zones.
• Assessed endangered root crops for biochemical and nutritional values to aid in product development.

Processing, Value Addition & Outreach

• Produced Amora and processed it into high-quality starch, noted as one of the best globally.
• Processed turmeric into powder form.
• Processed the American yam bean into several distinct food forms.
• Successfully produced Rizga for commercial sale.
• Initiated ongoing popularization and sensitization campaigns for farmers in southern Nigeria regarding turmeric use.

Current Research Thrusts

In the coming years, the programme’s research will prioritize the following areas:

1. Varietal Development: Improving produce and product quality through germplasm collection, characterization, conservation, and advanced breeding techniques.
2. Agronomic Intervention: Modifying and developing cost-effective, acceptable farming practices to boost crop yields.
3. Market Integration: Developing reliable seed supply systems and robust marketing structures.
4. Value Chain Optimization: Conducting further studies on post-harvest storage, processing, and overall value chain development.
5. Policy Advocacy: Promoting minor crops through active engagement with government bodies, private enterprises, and NGOs.

Collaborating Research Institutes

The programme currently partners with:

• International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Plant Genetic Resources Center (IPK), Germany