The Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) stands as a key institution promoting agricultural innovation and modernisation in Nigeria. ARCN is responsible for coordinating, supervising, and regulating agricultural research and extension, which plays an important role in enabling AgTech. Agtech involves the integration of advanced technologies into agriculture to improve productivity, which in turn influences economic development. Nigeria faces challenges related to food security, climate change, and population growth. With ARCN’s mission to advance agricultural research, these challenges become even more significant, as they directly contribute to sustainable development and increased productivity.
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) was established by Decree 44 of 1999 (now an Act) and leads efforts in agricultural innovation and development. ARCN is Nigeria’s apex organisation for coordinating agricultural research, training, and extension services.
As the key institution exemplifying Nigeria’s commitment to agricultural excellence, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) manages a comprehensive network of National Agricultural Research Institutes and Federal Colleges of Agriculture nationwide. Its mission is to advance food security, economic growth, and rural development by efficiently planning, coordinating, and regulating research. The ARCN ensures practical solutions are developed by actively partnering with a diverse range of stakeholders, including researchers, farmers, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria’s focus areas include:
Among ARCN’s recent impactful projects are:
1. Climate-resilient rice: ARCN is implementing/participating in the regional Climate-Resilient Rice Production workstream tied to the RICOWAS initiative (a regional program scaling Climate-Resilient Rice Production practices across West Africa). The project focuses on increasing yields through better varieties and climate-smart agronomy (rice intensification, climate info, tolerant varieties).
2. Aquaculture / sustainable feeds (FASA & related work): ARCN’s projects list includes aquaculture sustainability and low-cost, nutritious feed development; the broader FASA project (Development & Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems) is active in Nigeria and seeks to enable thousands of smallholder fish farmers to adopt new feeds and practices WorldFish and partners (Norad etc.) are prominent implementers.
3. Digital agriculture / AI & remote sensing (Nigeria Agricultural Intelligence Platform): ARCN has publicly announced and promoted a Nigeria Agricultural Intelligence Platform (an AI/data analytics-driven platform to link researchers, farmers and policymakers, provide advisory services, and improve decision-making).
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) continues to strengthen its impact through local and international collaborations. ARCN works closely with global research organisations such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), CGIAR centres (including AfricaRice, IFPRI, and ICRISAT), and regional partners under ECOWAS frameworks. These alliances enable technology transfer, joint research projects, and capacity-building programs that target youth, agripreneurs, and extension workers. An essential focus lies in scaling climate-smart innovations, improved crop varieties, and mechanisation techniques across Nigeria’s agricultural zones.
ARCN’s partnership ecosystem extends to the private sector and digital innovators. Through collaborations with entities such as Hello Tractor, the council supports the rollout of mechanisation hubs that make tractor services accessible to smallholder farmers. It also champions the adoption of digital agri-platforms and data-driven farm management tools, bridging the gap between research outputs and farmers’ real-time needs. These partnerships amplify the reach of AgTech solutions in rural communities, driving productivity and inclusion.
ARCN has prioritised research governance reform and policy alignment with Nigeria’s national agricultural agenda. The council’s Second Strategic Plan (2021–2030) emphasises a shift toward responsive, demand-driven research that supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the broader National Food Security Programme.
Ongoing reforms include the review of research institutes’ service conditions, the modernisation of the ARCN Act, and the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation systems to accelerate the uptake of innovation. By translating research findings into policy briefs, advisory notes, and funding proposals, ARCN ensures that AgTech innovations are integrated into Nigeria’s agricultural development frameworks, creating an environment that enables scaling innovation, attracts investment, and achieves sustainable impact.
Dr Abubakar Adamu Dabban, Executive Secretary of ARCN, highlights the council’s strategic direction: “Nigeria’s agriculture faces significant pressures from climate change and population growth, but we believe science, innovation, and technology can turn these challenges into opportunities. Our commitment to modernising research governance and strengthening collaborations is central to delivering impactful agricultural solutions for Nigeria’s farmers”.
The Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria is fundamental in advancing AgTech adoption through rigorous research, strategic partnerships, and policy advocacy. By fostering innovation in climate-resilient crops, aquaculture, and digital agriculture, and by strengthening governance and collaboration frameworks, ARCN fuels Nigeria’s agricultural transformation. As the country seeks to meet future food security and sustainability goals, ARCN’s role as a catalyst for AgTech growth remains indispensable.
