Lake Chad Research Institute (LCRI) was established by the Research Institutes (establishment Act) Order, 1975. However, the Institutes actual physical existence began with the location of its headquarters at Maiduguri in 1976.

At its inception, the Institute established stations at Baga, Malamfatori and Ngala in Borno State. As it activities expanded, the Institute established experimental sites at Biu, Damboa and New-Marte in Borno state; Dadinkowa and Deba in Gombe state; Gembu in Taraba state; Uba in Adamawa State, Gashua in Yobe State; Jos in Plateau State and Obudu in Cross River State, over the years.

The Institute had multidisciplinary mandate of conducting research in crops, fisheries, livestock, Agro-forestry, wildlife and public health. However, following a re-appraisal of the mandates and functions of National Research Institutes in 1987, the Lake Chad Research Institute became a crop based research Institute and was charged with a new research mandate.

Key Mandates

The mandates of Lake Chad Research Institute are:

  1. Genetic improvement of wheat, barley and millet.
  2. Investigation of the problems of production of all agricultural food crops grown in the broad ecological zone covered by Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe States, with emphasis on farming systems including integration of livestock, tree crops and agro-forestry into production systems.
  3. Conduct Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services with the relevant Federal and State Ministries, Primary Agricultural Producers, Industries and other users of Research.
  4. Provide laboratory and other technical services to farmers, agro-based industries and others needing these services.