NIGERIA Invest in 2012-13 - Newsdesk Media

Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT), ABU, Zaria
The Centre for Energy Research and Training,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is a centre
of excellence in nuclear science, energy and
technology. The Centre has as its mission
the promotion of the peaceful application of
nuclear science and technology in the fields
of agriculture, health, environment, solid
mineral development, petroleum resources
and other relevant sectors of the economy.
The Centre has been carrying out
soil-fertility mapping to improve on the
application of fertiliser in agriculture.
It has also set out a geochemical map,
analysed food and other items suspected
to be contaminated with radioactivity, and
successfully determined the source of a
petroleum seepage from a petrochemical plant
– which had contaminated nearby ground
water – using a radiotracer technique. It has
also provided dosimetry services to radiation
weed control, harvesting, processing
and storage techniques.
(b) Crop-based technologies
Important crop varieties from IAR include:
1. Cowpea: Nine varieties of cowpea for
different ecologies have been developed
and released for production.
2. Cotton: There are 13 cotton varieties
that have been developed and released to
cotton farmers in Nigeria. SAMCOT 11,
SAMCOTT 12 and SAMCOTT 13 are
the latest varieties released. They are long
staple and resistant to alteranria leaf spots
and bacterial blight diseases.
3. Groundnut: 23 varieties have been
developed in collaboration with ICRISAT
and released to farmers in different
ecologies. The most popular are the rosette
and drought-resistant varieties.
4. Maize: 14 maize varieties have been
released to farmers in different ecological
zones. Of the newly released varieties,
SAMMAZ 11 is Striga hermonthica
resistant, while SAMMAZ 12 and
SAMMAZ 13 are extra-early white and
yellow grains respectively. SAMMAZ 14
is quality protein maize, which has
higher levels of lysine and tryptophan,
the two limiting essential amino acids in
maize. A lot of the maize consumed in
every house in Nigeria in one form or
the other is a product of IAR in
collaboration with IITA and other
national research institutes. Maize is
users in the country, as well as other radiation
protection services, and provided analytical
services, using nuclear and other related
analytical techniques, to both government
and the private sector in the country. It has
also provided training to Nigerians in the
application of nuclear techniques in various
industrial processes.
Since 2004, the Centre has been operating
a nuclear research reactor (Nigeria Research
Reactor-NIRR-1) providing analytical services
using neutron activation analysis and the
training of Nigerians in nuclear science and
technology. The Centre also has an array of
other research facilities available, such as XRF,
both isotopic and tube-type, and the AAS,
14-meV Neutron Generator and Diviner 2000
(a soil moisture monitor).
We are now on the verge of installing an
isotopic mass spectrometer, which we are sure
SAMMAZ 13 breed produce at IAR, ABU
indispensable in the attainment of
national food security and as a raw
material in many agro-based industries.
5. Sorghum 45 sorghum varieties
suitable for Sahel, Sudan and Guinea
Savanna ecologies have been developed
and released in collaboration with
ICRISAT. Among the most prominent are
SAMSORG 17 and SAMSORG40, which
are suitable for malt production.
Nigerian breweries have since been using
these varieties as a substitute for barley.
The bulk of foreign exchange needed to
import barley is therefore conserved.
6. Artemisia, jatropha, castor and
sunflower: these are a relatively recent
addition to our mandate crops. Research
efforts are rigorously being made to
improve these crops in relation to the
Nigeria Nuclear Research Reactor NIRR-1
at CERT, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
www.abu.edu.ng
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will prove to be a very important facility. This
facility will be able to serve not only Nigeria,
but also the West Africa sub-region in the
areas of water-resource management.
needs of the end users, particularly those
of the pharmaceutical industry and the
biofuel prospectors.
a. Food technology/product development
In order to promote the industrial usage
of some agricultural produce, IAR has
the Food Science/Product Development
Programme. The unit researches into
the industrial use of farm produce, as
well as training individuals, groups and
organisations on processing and the
utilisation of farm produce.
b. The development of farm and
off-farm machineries
A number of on-farm and off-farm
machineries have been developed
and perfected by the Agricultural
Mechanization Programme of the
Institute. The equipment includes crop
threshers, weeders, planters, solar dryers,
onion storage rack, mini-silo for grains
storage and so on. Entrepreneurs who are
willing to collaborate with us for mass
production are welcome.