Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is a Nigerian government agency with perpetual succession, established as a Grade 'A' parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. It serves as the apex organization responsible for coordinating, managing, and regulating agricultural research in Nigeria. ARCN oversees a network of national agricultural research institutes and collaborates with stakeholders to enhance agricultural productivity and food security. The Council coordinates and monitors agricultural research to increase agricultural productivity for economic development. The agency also trains farmers, for instance through television and radio programs.
Agricultural research in Nigeria began in the late 19th century with the establishment of a botanical garden in Lagos. However, the coordination of research centers and institutes remained a persistent challenge. The botanical garden was part of a network of gardens established under British colonial rule, primarily focused on introducing new crops. In 1903, the Forestry and Botanical Department (later renamed the Agricultural Department) for Southern Nigeria was created. By 1912, this department was divided into two regional entities, leading to the establishment of a separate Department of Agriculture for Northern Nigeria. Following Nigeria's unification in 1914, the two departments were merged to form a unified Department of Agriculture.
Significant progress was made in infrastructure and human resources during this period, with the establishment of new research stations, an increase in research personnel, and the development of more technical research programs. These programs included plant breeding and plant pathology, though the focus remained on export crops such as oil palm, rubber, cotton, and cocoa. The Forestry and Veterinary Departments were also established in 1914 but began research activities only in 1920. Fishery research emerged later, in 1941, with the creation of the Fisheries Development Branch under the Department of Agriculture.
Until World War II, agricultural research was primarily managed by the local colonial government. However, the British government's increased interest in promoting science and technology in its colonies led to the establishment of several regional agricultural research organizations in West Africa. These organizations, part of the West African Inter-territorial Research Organisation (WAIFRO), complemented or partially replaced existing facilities. Three key institutes were located in Nigeria:
Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, these regional institutes were nationalized, leading to the creation of:
After independence, research activities were regionalized, reducing federal government involvement. However, the regional efforts failed to yield the expected results, prompting the federal government to intervene in the 1960s. This period saw significant reorganization and expansion of research institutes in the 1970s. The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) was established under Decree 25 of 1971. However, the first ARCN, along with other sectoral councils, was abolished in 1977 and replaced by the Nigerian Science and Technology Development Agency. Further changes occurred in 1980 with the Research Institutes Establishment Order, which upgraded many research stations and departments to national institutes.
The research institutes underwent further reorganization during the Green Revolution program of the early 1980s, including a review of their mandates. Coordination changes continued under military regimes. The Agricultural Sciences Department (ASD), initially under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, was transferred to the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). In 1992, the government recognized the need to realign agricultural research with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Consequently, the ASD and 15 Agricultural Research Institutes were formally reintegrated into the ministry. However, the ASD's bureaucratic structure hindered effective coordination, leading to systemic challenges.
In 1999, the Federal Military Government signed the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Decree No. 44, reestablishing the ARCN. However, its implementation was delayed as the government prioritized other initiatives, such as the Presidential Initiatives and the National Special Programme on Food Security. During the Presidential Retreat on Agriculture and Food Security in December 2005, weak linkages between research and agricultural production were identified as a major constraint. This led to the formation of a Presidential Advisory Committee (PAC) on Improving Linkages between Research and Production, with the following terms of reference:
The PAC submitted its report in July 2006, leading to the establishment of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Improving Linkages between Research and Production in August 2006. This committee, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, included deputy governors and other stakeholders. Its mandate was to ensure the systematic implementation of the PAC's recommendations and provide quarterly progress reports to the Presidential Forum.
In November 2006, the committee presented its first quarterly report, recommending the immediate operationalization of the ARCN as the global best practice for coordinating and supervising agricultural research. Consequently, an Executive Secretary for the ARCN was appointed in November 2006.
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) was established by Decree 44 of 1999, now an Act of the National Assembly. The decree was published as Extra-ordinary Government Notice No. 78 of 26 May 1999, vol. 86. In September 2021, the Council’s Principal Act,Cap. A12, under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, was amended to reconstitute the board's membership and make provisions for the effective operation of the Council.
The ARCN is mandated to plan, manage, coordinate, supervise, and regulate agricultural research, training, and extension in the under-listed National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs).
Below are tables of research institutes and federal colleges of agriculture overseen by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), including their websites, states, and zones
The Council under the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Professor Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, represents Nigeria on the Board of Trustees of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, an organization that works towards improving food security prospects in the continent through agricultural technology and giving support to farmers and governments in Sub-Saharan Africa to more easily access tools and resources that will give them a competitive edge in the 21st century agriculture markets.
In January 2024, 1,650 new scientists joined the services of the ARCN to make more research on food security in order to reduce food scarcity in the country. The ARCN has responsibility for training and extension activities.
The secretary of the ARCN has urged the federal government to work more on the production of quickly maturing crops in order to facilitate the production of food and reduce food scarcity.
In 2021, the agency inaugurated Agricultural Radio and Television to disseminate information to farmers more effectively.
In January 2024, the Nigerian federal government announced a transformation of the ARCN and all its affiliations. It was declared by the Minister of Agriculture.