Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI), Maiduguri

Brief History of the Institute

The Federal Government of Nigeria established the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop modern and dynamic agricultural research system with the aims of increasing agricultural productivity, alleviate rural poverty and job creation. The Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) is one of the Agricultural Research Institutes, established by the Research Institute (Establishment Act) Order 1975.

Vision

To provide improved agricultural technologies through research and development and make farming a business of economic benefit for the farmer toward attaining national food security.

Mission

To conduct developmental research in close collaboration with stakeholders through genetic overhaul of the mandate crops, realign production to modern system and encourage industrial linkage in the total farming systems in the zone.

Core mandate crops

Genetic improvement of Millet, Wheat and Barley.

Key achievements

A: Wheat Research

Lake Chad Research Institute has so far released thirteen (13) wheat varieties, with improved yields from 3.0 – 7.5 t/ha. These are:

S/No.VarietyYear of releaseYield potential
1.LACRIWHIT-1 (Seri M82)19982.0 – 3.0 t/ha
2.LACRIWHIT-2 (Cettia)20053.5 – 4.0 t/ha
3.LACRIWHIT-3 (Linfen)20053.5 – 4.0 t/ha
4.LACRIWHIT-4 (Atilla-Gan-Atilla)20084.0 – 4.5 t/ha
5.LCRIWHIT-5 (Norman)20145.0 – 6.0 t/ha
6.LCRIWHIT-6 (Reyna 28)20145.0 – 5.5 t/ha
7.LACRI WHIT-7 (Reyna 15)20154.0 – 5.0 t/ha
8.LACRI WHIT-8 (Crow’s’)20154.0 – 4.5 t/ha
9.LACRIWHIT-9 (Pastor)20176.0 – 7.0 t/ha
10.LACRIWHIT-10 (Kauz)20176.5 – 7.5 t/ha
11.LACRIWHIT-11 (Imam)20195.6 – 7.1 t/ha
12LACRIWHIT-12 (MA-Maja)20224.0 – 5.0 t/ha
13LACRIWHIT-13 (Altar-84)20224.0 – 5.0 t/ha

B: Millet Research

The Institute also has improved the yield of millet varieties cultivated by farmers from 1.0t/ha to 4.5t/ha, through the release and popularization of five millet varieties. The three best bets popularly grown Millet varieties are:

S/No.VarietyYear of releaseObtainable yield
1.LCIC MV-1 (SOSAT-C88)20003.0 – 3.5 t/ha
2.LCIC-MV3 (SUPERSOSAT)20134.0 – 4.5 t/ha
3.LCIC-MV4 (JIRANI, PEO 5984)20132.5 – 3.0 t/ha

C: Farming System Research

1. Value addition to crop residues for utilization as livestock feed in Northeast sub region of Nigeria.

Description:

Residues of cereals such as millet stover, wheat straw, sorghum stover, rice straw, brans/offal’s, etc. And legumes such as groundnut haulms, cowpea haulms, soybeans haulms, etc. As energy and protein sources respectively. These residues can serve as both maintenance and production ration when properly processed and mixed using 60:40 energy: protein mixing ratio.

This feed can be produced in form of total mixed ration (TMR) or total mixed ration block.

2. Production and utilization of minerals block using locally available mineral sources in semi-arid region of Nigeria.

Description: 

Mineral salt lick is a feed block that contain different array of minerals including both micro and macro minerals. The production of this block involved grinding, mixing, wetting and molding. The block lick serves as mineral supplement which aid in digestion of nutrients, prevent eating of non-food material, increase milk yield, etc. The mixing ratio is depending on the availability of the mineral sources but potash should be above 50% while binder maximum 20% with the exception of cement   

(Max 5%).

D: Agricultural Economics and Extension Research

Improvement on methods of disseminating improved technologies to the wider audience by establishing National farmers helpline centre and new Agricultural information centre.

Website

https://www.lacrimaid.com

Contact

Name: Dr. A.T.S. Bibinu – Ag. ED/CEO, LCRI

Email: atsibinu@gmail.com

Phone: +2348029244271

Links

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lacri_maid

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Lake-chad-research-institute-Maiduguri-LACRI

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacrimaid