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September 25, 2008
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics (ICRISAT) will soon re-establish its center in
Nigeria. This intent was formalized through a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) signed with the Agricultural Research
Council of Nigeria (ARCN).
ICRISAT Director General Dr William D Dar and the Executive
Director of ARCN, Dr BY Abubakar, signed the MOU recently. The
Chair of ICRISAT's Governing Board, Dr Stein Bie, was present
during the signing function.
ARCN will facilitate ICRISAT's re-establishment in Nigeria
through this MOU. ICRISAT had research collaboration with the
Nigerian Government since 1987, with a research center at Kano,
which was later closed down.
According to Dr Dar, the MOU will strengthen collaboration with
Nigeria, and with the re-established Center ICRISAT scientists
and their counterparts from the national agricultural research
system of Nigeria will be able to work together closely on
agricultural research. This will be a boost to collaborative
research in Nigeria and neighboring regions.
Under the MOU, ARCN and ICRISAT will implement joint research
programs in Nigeria; ensure mutual cooperation and collaboration
among scientists; facilitate exchange of germplasm, breeding
material, scientific information and techniques; and also focus
on capacity development.
ICRISAT will initiate a regional research and training program
on its mandate crops (mainly sorghum and millet) and natural
resource management in West and Central Africa from a central
base in Nigeria. |
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