Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria

What Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria does

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) is the federal government parastatal established by Decree 44 of 1999 (amended 2021) and reporting to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, tasked with coordinating, supervising and regulating agricultural research, training and extension across Nigeria. Headquartered in Abuja, ARCN oversees 14 National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) covering horticulture (NIHORT), cocoa and tree crops (CRIN), rubber (RRIN), root and tuber crops (NRCRI), cereals (NCRI), animal production (NAPRI), veterinary vaccines (NVRI), stored products (NSPRI), oil palm (NIFOR), and mechanization (NCAM), plus 12 Federal Colleges of Agriculture providing National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programs. The Council employs over 9,000 scientists, researchers, technicians and staff and reaches more than 100,000 farming families through 578 Adopted Research Outreach Centres spanning all six of Nigeria's geopolitical zones.

ARCN's core technology and product portfolio includes climate-resilient crop varieties from NRCRI's Root and Tuber Breeding Project, NIHORT's Biotechnology Laboratory and Gene Bank for germplasm conservation, NSPRI's NSPRIDUST grain protectant and off-grid solar cold storage and dryer systems, NAPRI's animal genetics and nutrition programs, and NVRI's veterinary vaccine production capacity of up to 120 million doses annually across 23 outstation laboratories. The Council disseminates knowledge through the peer-reviewed Journal of Applied Agricultural Research (JAAR), quarterly newsletters, AROC field activities that have reached 1,024,835 beneficiaries, and partnerships with CGIAR, IITA, FARA, CORAF/WECARD, IFPRI, ICRISAT, ILRI, WorldFish, FAO, WHO, IAEA and the World Bank.

ARCN's revenue model is government-funding-dominant: the Council receives federal appropriation as a Grade 'A' parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, supplemented by modest tuition and training fees from its Federal Colleges of Agriculture and donor co-funding from multilateral partners. Its go-to-market motion is institutionally coordinated rather than commercial — research outputs and training reach end users (smallholder and commercial farmers, students, adopted schools and farming communities) through its NARI and FCA network plus AROC extension channels, rather than through priced commercial products.

Name

Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria

Legal name

Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria

Website

https://arcn.gov.ng

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ARCN is Nigeria's federal parastatal coordinating agricultural research, training and extension across 14 National Agricultural Research Institutes and 12 Federal Colleges of Agriculture, serving farmers, students and government with crop varieties, livestock vaccines and postharvest technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Extension Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Data Management & Decision Support Services (FMIS Setup, Data Integration, Analytics) (AFACACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education ERP (Student Information, Finance, HR) (HDAEAEAI)

Keywords

• Agricultural research
• Agricultural training
• Agricultural extension services
• Crop variety development
• Livestock vaccine production

Headquarters

HQ city

Abuja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Agricultural Research and Extension Services: ARCN receives government funding to coordinate, supervise, and regulate agricultural research, training, and extension activities across Nigeria's 14 NARIs and 12 FCAs. The Council manages research, extension, and training activities that drive agricultural growth, boost production, and improve livelihoods across Nigeria.
2. Training and Education Services: ARCN oversees Federal Colleges of Agriculture that provide National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, vocational training, and farmer training programs, generating tuition and training fee revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARCN is a federal government parastatal that coordinates, supervises, and regulates agricultural research, training, and extension activities across Nigeria's National Agricultural Research System (NARS). It operates through a network of 14 National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) and 12 Federal Colleges of Agriculture (FCAs), developing improved crop varieties, livestock vaccines, postharvest technologies, and delivering agricultural education and farmer training programs.

Product overview

ARCN operates as a coordinating body managing a portfolio of research institutes and training institutions across Nigeria. The core offerings include: Agricultural Research Services coordinated across 14 National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) specializing in horticulture (NIHORT), cocoa and tree crops (CRIN), rubber, root crops (NRCRI), cereals (NCRI), animal production (NAPRI), veterinary research and vaccines (NVRI), stored products (NSPRI), oil palm (NIFOR), and agricultural mechanization (NCAM); Agricultural Training Services through 12 Federal Colleges of Agriculture offering National and Higher National Diploma programs; and Extension Services via the Adopted Research Outreach Centers (AROCs) initiative reaching over 578 adopted villages and schools. The Journal of Applied Agricultural Research (JAAR) serves as the council's peer-reviewed publication. The institutes also develop and distribute agricultural technologies including improved seed varieties, vaccines, and postharvest solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Journal of Applied Agricultural Research (JAAR): ARCN's agricultural research journal publishing scientific findings and innovations in the agricultural sector.

Products and services

• Agricultural Research Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 435+ agricultural innovations and improved technologies developed and deployed across Nigeria
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CGIAR – Consultative Group on International Agricultural ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGIAR is a global partnership engaged in research about crops, agriculture, climate change, and nutrition. ARCN collaborates with CGIAR through its network of international research centers on agricultural innovation for developing countries.
• IITA – International Institute of Tropical AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIITA is one of the world's leading research partners in solving hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. ARCN collaborates with IITA on research involving pest-resistant varieties, postharvest technology, and sustainable agriculture.
• FARA – Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFARA is an Africa-wide forum for agricultural research for development, supporting ARCN's mandate through continental coordination of agricultural research initiatives.
• CORAF/WECARD – West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORAF/WECARD supports ARCN through sub-regional research coordination, technology sharing, and capacity building across West and Central Africa.
• IFPRI – International Food Policy Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition. ARCN collaborates with IFPRI on agricultural policy research and food security analysis.
• AATF – African Agricultural Technology FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAATF facilitates and supports public-private partnerships to deliver agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers. ARCN partners with AATF on technology transfer and agricultural innovation projects.
• ICRISAT – International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid TropicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICRISAT works on dryland agriculture and supports ARCN's research in Nigeria's drought-prone northern regions through germplasm sharing and joint research programs.
• ILRI – International Livestock Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerILRI works to improve food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research on livestock. ARCN collaborates with ILRI through NAPRI and NVRI on livestock research and development.
• Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfricaRice supports ARCN's rice research through the National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI) on improved rice varieties and rice-fish farming technologies.
• WorldFishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorldFish supports ARCN's fisheries and aquaculture research programs through collaboration on sustainable aquaculture practices and fish breeding programs.
• CABI – Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCABI provides scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. ARCN collaborates with CABI on plant health, pest management, and knowledge products.
• Sasakawa Africa AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSasakawa Africa Association supports NSPRI and ARCN's extension and training programs, contributing to capacity building for smallholder farmers in postharvest technology.
• Natural Research Institute (NRI), UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRI UK collaborates with NSPRI on postharvest research, food processing, and storage technology development.
• Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAIN supports ARCN's nutrition-focused agricultural programs through partnerships on food security and nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
• Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Emissions (GRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGRA supports ARCN's research on climate-resilient agriculture and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the agricultural sector.
• Africa Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFAAS supports ARCN's extension services mandate through continental coordination of agricultural advisory and extension services across Africa.
• SyngentaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSyngenta partners with ARCN on agricultural technology development and sharing of innovative crop protection and seeds solutions.
• International Potato Center (CIP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIP collaborated with FCA Kano on the Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) school feeding program, contributing to nutrition and food security.
• Green Innovation Centers for Agriculture (GIZ/GIAE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ/GIAE supports FCA Kano through the Green Innovation Centers project, focusing on postharvest innovation and agricultural productivity improvements.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAEA supports NAPRI through technical cooperation programs on nuclear applications in agriculture, including animal genetics and radiation biology.
• Obasanjo FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerObasanjo Farms collaborates with NAPRI on commercial livestock breeding and dairy production technology transfer to Nigerian farmers.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO collaborates with NVRI on zoonotic disease surveillance and research, including work on Mpox, COVID-19, and Lassa Fever at the animal-human interface.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO supports NVRI's veterinary research and vaccine production programs, contributing to animal health surveillance and disease control across Nigeria.
• ARLA Global Foods LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARLA Global Foods Limited partners with NAPRI on dairy production technology development and commercial dairy farming practices in Nigeria.
• CAPS InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAPS International collaborates with FECA Akure on agricultural development projects and market access for smallholder farmers.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• CGIAR System Organization: CGIAR is the global network of international agricultural research centers (IITA, ICRISAT, ILRI, AfricaRice, WorldFish, IFPRI, etc.) that ARCN partners with. As a funder, collaborator, and standards-setter, CGIAR shapes the upstream research agenda and funding flows that flow into ARCN's institutes.
• Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA): FARA is the continental body that coordinates agricultural research for development across Africa, of which ARCN is a key member. As an umbrella network partner, FARA channels continental policy and donor programming to ARCN and other national systems.
• Wageningen University & Research (WUR): Wageningen is a global leader in agricultural sciences, food technology, and applied life-science research with extensive tropical agriculture programs. It is a thematically comparable research/training institution and an indirect partner via CGIAR and bilateral collaborations with ARCN-aligned institutes.
• CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development): CIRAD is France's research center working with tropical and Mediterranean agriculture, collaborating with African national systems on crop, livestock, and agro-ecology research. It is an indirect thematic peer in research methodologies, training partnerships, and postharvest technology development.

Direct peers

• Agricultural Research Council of South Africa (ARC): ARC is South Africa's principal agricultural research institution, conducting crop, livestock, and horticultural research with extension and diagnostic lab services. It is a direct structural peer to ARCN as a national council coordinating research institutes and vaccine/diagnostic production.
• Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR): EIAR coordinates Ethiopia's federal agricultural research centers covering crops, livestock, and natural resources. Its mandate and federal coordinating structure mirror ARCN's role over the 14 NARIs in Nigeria, with similar crop breeding and extension functions.
• Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO): KALRO is Kenya's national body for agricultural and livestock research, formed by merging multiple commodity research institutes under a single coordinating body. Its mandate in crop breeding, livestock research, biotechnology, and extension delivery is directly comparable to ARCN's role across the 14 NARIs.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): ICAR is the apex body coordinating India's national agricultural research system across 113 ICAR institutes and 73 agricultural universities. It is structurally analogous to ARCN as a statutory federal council that coordinates crop, livestock, fisheries, and horticultural research with extension and education mandates, but operates at far larger scale.
• Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa): Embrapa is a state-owned enterprise under Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture that drives tropical agricultural research, technology transfer, and crop/livestock innovation. It is comparable to ARCN in coordinating national research infrastructure and breeding programs, with stronger commercialization capabilities.

Regional players

• Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), Ghana: CSIR Ghana operates crop, livestock, and food research institutes across Ghana. While smaller in scale than ARCN, it is a regional peer coordinating agricultural research for a neighboring West African country with overlapping CGIAR and CORAF/WECARD partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArcnAbuja
• Facebookfacebook.com/Agricultural-Research-Council-of-Nigeria-100069411870567

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria