The Research Outreach Department (ROD) is the technology transfer and agricultural extension arm of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike. The Department is responsible for coordinating farming systems research and agricultural extension services across the South-East agro-ecological zone of Nigeria, covering Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

ROD serves as the critical link between research and end-users by facilitating the dissemination, adoption, and utilization of improved agricultural technologies developed by the Institute. Through adaptive research, capacity building, demonstration farms, farmer trainings, extension publications, radio and television programmes, digital communication platforms, and strategic partnerships, the Department promotes sustainable agricultural development and enhances the productivity and profitability of root and tuber crop value chains.

The Department operates through two core programmes: the Farming Systems Research Programme, which identifies farmers’ production constraints and develops location-specific solutions, and the Extension Services Programme, which promotes and disseminates research findings to farmers, extension personnel, agribusinesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Committed to innovation, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement, the Research Outreach Department plays a pivotal role in strengthening research–extension–farmer linkages, improving food and nutrition security, promoting climate-smart agriculture, supporting value addition, and enhancing the livelihoods of farming communities. Through its multidisciplinary team and collaborative approach, ROD continues to drive the widespread adoption of agricultural innovations that contribute to sustainable rural development and national food security.