Nnaya Eziyi, Umuahia
The Executive Director, National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Dr. Julius Okonkwo has inaugurated an Autotrophic Hydroponic System (SAH) Seed Multiplicities Laboratory funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at the institute.
Speaking on the occasion, which was part of activities marking his send-off party, Okonkwo thanked the foundation for executing the project under the “Building Sustainable Integrated Seed System for Cassava in Nigeria (BASICS) Project.”
Okonkwo, who is retiring from service in the institute after a 40-year meritorious service, which he began in 1977 as a pupil research officer, commended the management and staff for their loyalty and support.
Similarly, the Chairman of the occasion and Director of Biotechnology, Prof Ukpabi Joseph Ukpabi said during his tenure, Okonkwo created a sustained enabling environment for the institute to deliver on its mandate.
“His tenure witnessed increased collaboration between NRCRI and international partners which resulted in increased number of externally-funded projects and participation of staff in international trainings and conferences, among others”.
In his contribution, an Assistant Director in charge of Biotechnology Programme, Dr Joseph Onyeka said the system was developed in Argentina and adopted by NRCRI and other partners to enhance cassava rapid multiplication.
He said, “It is a cost effective technology for rapid micro propagation method suitable for quick multiplication of clonally propagated crops such as cassava that will enable NRCRI deliver improved varieties of crops to farmers at a very faster rate than the previously used propagation methods.
He added “And specifically enables cassava seed producers to increase exponentially their seed production while lowering their overall cost and is about ten times faster than conventional tissue culture method and requires less than half of the cost of using tissue culture”.
