The Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has emerged as a leading Nigerian beneficiary of an international climate adaptation research programme, securing four grants worth approximately N1.213 billion.
The funding, valued at $948,678.53, will support research into practical solutions to climate-related challenges facing farmers, including livestock feed shortages, water access for irrigation and the availability of drought-tolerant crop varieties.
The grants were awarded under the Action Research for Climate Adaptation in Agriculture (ARCAA) programme, jointly implemented by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), with support from the Gates Foundation.
According to a statement by Dr Sharhabil Musa Yahaya of IAR’s Agricultural Extension Unit, the institute secured four of the eight successful Nigerian proposals, making it the only institution in the country to win multiple grants under the programme.
The competition attracted 149 concept notes, but only 14 were approved, giving the programme a selection rate of approximately 9.4 per cent.
The funded research will explore locally sourced alternatives for livestock feed, solar-powered irrigation systems led by farmers, wider adoption of drought-tolerant maize hybrids and improved access to climate-resilient groundnut varieties through inclusive seed systems.
The initiatives are expected to help farmers improve production, adapt to changing climatic conditions and adopt more sustainable agricultural practices, particularly across Northern Nigeria.
IAR Executive Director, Prof. Ado A. Yusuf, said the grants reflected the institute’s research strength and its scientists’ commitment to addressing challenges confronting farmers.
He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to ensuring that research outcomes deliver tangible benefits to farming communities and contribute to national food security.
ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, also commended the researchers, describing the achievement as evidence of the university’s growing standing in agricultural research and innovation across Africa.
