Crop and Seed Production Unit is one the oldest Unit in the Institute. At the early stage, seed production was done in the stations by the Farm Management Unit under the supervision of the Station Management at the Headquarter, Moor Plantation, Ibadan. The stations involved, then, were located at Moor Plantation, Ibadan (Headquarter), and research outstations located in Ikenne (Ogun State), Ilora and Eruwa (in Oyo State). The Institute also had livestock research station in Fashola, in Oyo State. More research stations were later established in Oyo, Edo, Ekiti, Osun, Kwara and Delta States to cater for the expansion in research and seed production activities of the Institute.
The farm management which operated as Farm Management Unit (FMU) was at the outstation level later graduated to full-fledged station management (Station Management Unit) in 1973. The Station Management Unit (SMU) was vibrant and productive, thus was upgraded to Seed Production and Testing Service (SPTS) in 1976. This marked the beginning of Crop and Seed Production Unit in the Institute. Several re-organizations had since taken place in the area of research activities, locations, seed production and handling, as well as personnel deployment. For instance, Seed Production, Testing and Certification Programme (SPT&CP) which was formed from SPTS later changed to Crop Utilization Programme in 1989, and existed till 2006 when Seed Processing and Storage was transferred with Seed Testing to Crop Utilization Programme to form Post Harvest Technology Improvement Programme and later named Crop Production Unit (CPU).
In June 2019, the nomenclature changed from CPU to Crop and Seed Production Unit (C&SPU) which accommodates activities on making available quality seeds and grains to the users.
The Crop and Seed Production Unit comprises of four sections:
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Seed Production which is done at the various outstations
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Seed Processing and storage at the Headquarter in Ibadan
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Seed Testing and Certification at Ibadan, and various outstations
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Station Management at the Headquarter in Ibadan
The C&SPU office is located within the Institute in Ibadan with seven outstations located stretching from High Rainforest to the Guinea Savannah agro-ecologies of Nigeria. The outstations are:
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Ikenne, Ogun State in High Rainforest agro-ecology
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Ile-Ife, Osun State in the Rainforest agro-ecology
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Orin Ekiti, Ekiti State in the Rainforest agro-ecology
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Ilora, Oyo State in the Derived Savannah agro-ecology
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Kisi, Oyo State in Southern fringe of Guinea Savannah
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Ballah, Kwara State in Northern of fringe Guinea Savannah
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Kabba, Kogi State in Northern of fringe Guinea Savannah
The C&SPU’s office has the complements of qualified staff ranging from the Executive Officers to Agricultural and Laboratory Technologists, and Field Staff. The Unit also has many functional modern facilities ranging from field equipment to warehouses and processing sheds stocked with machines, and standard breeder and commercial seed stores. A well-equipped seed testing laboratory is also attached to the Unit for seed quality assurance activities.
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Unit Objectives
- To oversee and ensure success of research and seed production activities in all the stations of the Institute
- To provide support services to scientists in the Institute, and collaborators from public and private sectors in their research activities
- To yearly produce seeds, handle seed request and timely deliver breeder and foundation seeds for use of seeds companies in Nigeria (especially in the Southern part of Nigeria)
- To identify quality factors in seed production and determination of quality of seed lots to meet the established standards and labelling specifications
- To process, store and ,maintain both the genetic and mechanical purity of seeds
- To provide technical backstopping and supports to relevant institutions such as Universities and Research Institutes, Seed Companies and Growers, as well as Individual Research Scientists, and University students (undergraduates and postgraduates) within and outside Nigeria
- To generate revenue for the Institute
Unit Focus
Provision of wider and adequate support for research activities within and outside the institute in accordance with the mandates of the Institute
Current Activities
Continuous germplasm building, maintenance and deployment through exploration, collection, conservation and use of genetic resources
Our Collaborators
- Universities and Colleges of Agriculture, Polytechnics and colleges of education
- National and International Agricultural research and related Institutions
- Private Seed Companies in Nigeria
- Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies dealing in agriculture such as FMARD, NASC, NAQS, NACGRAB, RMRDC.
Past Achievements
- Yearly production of quality breeder and foundation seeds of kenaf, maize, cowpea, soybean for more than 50 years
- Adequate provision of supports to research activities of scientists within the Institute and collaborators
- Regular training of students under industrial training or SIWES from various institutions of higher learning
- Technical supports for research activities of several undergraduate and postgraduate students in the headquarter and outstations of the Institute
- Provision of facilities and spaces for quality tests of seeds in the laboratory within the Institute
Future Plans
Expansion of scope and activities to reach more stakeholders, and the larger society in research supports, crop and quality seed production, and supply system
Expanding our capability in the training of farmers and other stakeholders in the production, processing and storage of seeds.
Services Rendered
- Maintenance of genetic resources and making them available for use of scientists within and outside the Institute, and students in their research activities
- Technical backstopping for students (university undergraduates and postgraduates), polytechnics and colleges of Agriculture), and research scientists all over the nation
- Provision of after-sales services to farmers and seed growers on the establishment and maintenance of crops and seeds fields.
- Provision of platform for training of farmers in the value chain of crops