LCRI Promises To Meet Nigeria’s Wheat suffiency

The Executive Director, Lake Chad Research Institute, Professor Baba Gana Jugudum Kabir, on Tuesday, said the institute remains committed to research and development towards achieving national self sufficiency in wheat production.

Kabir stated this at the occasion of the 2024/2025 Wheat Farmers Brown Field Day, which was held at Mafa local government area of Borno State.

He explained that the Wheat Farmers Field Day is an annual event organised by the Institute to showcase the performance of developed technologies and to bridge the gap between research and practice through firsthand experience.

Professor Baba Gana Kabir said there is considerable gap between domestic production of wheat and national consumption, with their national requirement for wheat exceeding 5 million metric tonnes, while stating that local production remains below one million metric tonnes.

He further noted that their research led to the development and release of eighteen (18) improved wheat varieties, all of which are high-yielding and possess excellent baking qualities.

Represented by the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Abubakar Ibrahim, the Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, reiterated to support Lake Chad Research Institute in attaining national mandate of wheat production via research and other aspects of agricultural value chain.

On his part, Borno State Commissioner of Agriculture, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Dr Ahmed Tijjani, commended LCRI for developing up to 18 varieties of wheat and for achieving the harvest of over two (2) thousand hectares of wheat, saying Borno State registered nationally as a major wheat producer.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Ruwasa, Alhaji Shettima Mafa, lauded Lake Chad Research Institute for the programme and assured to support it via massive farming activities.

Mafa local government Council chairman, Alhaji Sanusi Mustapha, said the local council will seek the collaboration of Borno State Government to construct dams for the cultivation of wheat and other staple food via irrigation farming, stressing that Mafa possesses vast arable land for the cultivation of wheat.