The ASTI Data in Focus series provides additional background data in support of the 2010 Country Note on Nigeria (asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Nigeria-Note.pdf) prepared by the Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative, the Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF), and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN). Based on data collected by ASTI, FIF, and ARCN, these two outputs review major investment and capacity trends in Nigerian public agricultural research and development (R&D) since 1971, providing important updates on agricultural R&D trends prepared by ASTI in 2001 - 03.
D. Research Allocation across Commodities and Themes
This section provides detailed quantitative information on Nigerian public agricultural research allocation in 2008. Complementary sections present detailed data on long-term trends (Section A), financial resources (Section B), and human resources (Section C). Further supporting information provides macroeconomic trends, a list of agencies included in the study, data sources and estimation procedures, and ASTI's methodology.
Table D1–Research focus by major commodity area, 2008
This table presents the number of researchers by major commodity area both in absolute and relative terms. In 2008, 684 of the 1,817 full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers in a sample of 49 agencies focused on crop research. Of the remaining researchers, 419 FTEs focused on livestock, 135 FTEs on forestry, 67 FTEs on fisheries, and 511 FTEs on other commodity areas. Large variations were reported across the government agencies. While 52 percent of researchers at the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) focused on crop research, researchers at the remaining seven government agencies focused mostly on noncrop areas.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI-FIF-ARCN 2009 - 10.
Notes: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category. Research focus data were not available for all 66 higher education agencies.
Figure D1–Research focus by major commodity area, 2008
This figure presents the allocation of FTE researchers across different commodity areas (see also Table D1). In 2008, 38 percent of FTE researchers in agriculture were involved in crop research. Livestock research accounted for 23 percent, forestry research for 7 percent, and fisheries research for 4 percent. The remaining researchers concentrated their efforts on socioeconomic research, postharvest research, or other matters. Notably, research focus varied widely across agencies.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI-FIF-ARCN 2009 - 10.
Notes: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category. Research focus data were not available for all 66 higher education agencies.
Table D2–Focus of crop and livestock research by major item, 2008
The most researched crop in Nigeria in 2008 was cassava, accounting for 7 percent of total crop and livestock researchers. Oil palm, maize, and fruits each accounted for 4 percent of FTEs. The country's livestock researchers concentrated primarily on poultry (8 percent), beef (6 percent), and swine (5 percent).
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI-FIF-ARCN 2009 - 10.
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
Table D3–Focus of crop and livestock research by major theme, 2008
This table shows FTE researchers by thematic area in absolute and relative terms. Crop related themes accounted for 445 of the 1,757 FTE researchers in the 49-agency sample in 2008. That year, 12 percent of Nigeria's agricultural researchers focused on crop genetic improvement, 6 percent focused on crop pest and disease control, and another 8 percent focused on other research related to crops. Livestock genetic improvement, pest and disease control, and other livestock research were other important thematic areas. Large variations were reported across agencies.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI-FIF-ARCN 2009 - 10.
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
Copyright (C) 2011 International Food Policy Research Institute, , Farm and Infrastructure Foundation, and Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria. Sections of this Data in Focus sheet may be reproduced without the express permission of, but with acknowledgement to, IFPRI, FIF, and ARCN. The Data in Focus sheet has been prepared as an output for the ASTI initiative and has not been peer reviewed. Any opinions stated herein are those of ASTI and do not necessarily reflect the policies and opinions of IFPRI, FIF, or ARCN.