Production Department

The Production Department is one of the core operational and research support departments of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike. The Department is responsible for translating research innovations into practical agricultural solutions that improve the productivity, quality, and availability of root and tuber crops.

The Department plays an important role in implementing the Institute’s mandate by promoting sustainable production systems, supporting the multiplication of improved planting materials, and facilitating the adoption of modern agricultural technologies by farmers and other stakeholders.

Through integrated research support, field-based production activities, and strategic partnerships, the Department supports the deployment of improved technologies developed by the Institute to increase agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, and improve the livelihoods of farming communities across Nigeria.

Core Functions

The Production Department is responsible for:

• Producing and multiplying improved, high-quality, and disease-free planting materials for distribution to farmers, extension agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Establishing and managing seed multiplication fields to strengthen the availability of certified planting materials.
• Conducting field trials, adaptive research, and demonstration plots to evaluate the performance of improved crop varieties and production technologies under different agro-ecological conditions.
• Promoting modern, climate-smart, and mechanized production systems that improve crop yields, reduce production costs, and enhance resource-use efficiency.
• Supporting post-harvest handling, processing, storage, and utilization technologies that minimize losses and improve product quality.
• Organizing training programmes, field days, workshops, and practical demonstrations for farmers, extension personnel, researchers, and agribusiness operators.
• Facilitating the large-scale dissemination and adoption of improved production technologies developed by the Institute.
• Collecting field performance data and farmer feedback to support the continuous improvement of research programmes.
• Supporting sustainable agricultural practices that promote environmental conservation and climate resilience.
  
  

Capacity Building and Partnerships

The Department works closely with farmers, extension agencies, government institutions, research organizations, development partners, private-sector organizations, and farmer cooperatives to promote the adoption of improved production technologies.

Through these collaborations, the Department:

• Builds the technical capacity of farmers and agricultural professionals.
• Facilitates technology transfer and commercialization.
• Supports agricultural extension programmes.
• Promotes public-private partnerships in seed production and crop commercialization.
• Strengthens linkages across the root and tuber crop value chain.
  
  

Commitment to Excellence

The Production Department remains committed to delivering high-quality production support services that facilitate the adoption of innovative agricultural technologies.

By bridging the gap between research and commercial production, the Department contributes to advancing sustainable agriculture, improving national food security, and supporting the long-term development of Nigeria’s root and tuber crop sector.