The Establishment and Development of the Institute for Agricultural Research (I.A.R) in Zaria, 1922-1945

Abstract

The study examines the evolution and achievements of agricultural research in Zaria, with a particular focus on IAR, from 1922-1945. It explains the nature and character of food crop agricultural in pre-colonial Zaria that gave way to colonial export crop production in colonial Nigeria. The study adopted the political economy method and the underdevelopment/dependency theory, and argued that the primary motive behind British interests in colonizing Nigeria was to exploit its perceived enormous natural resources. Consequently, within the first three decade of the 20^th century, the economic growth of the Nigerian colony was primarily stimulated by agricultural exports. As a result, distinct regions became noticeable in the production areas of agricultural exports: groundnut and cotton in the North; cocoa and palm kernel in the West; and palm oil and palm kernel in the East. The study argues that in line with the colonial objective of exploiting the rich agricultural resources of Nigeria, research centers were thought out as very critical in the improvement of seeds, quality of yield, and training of manpower in the practice of colonial agriculture. It is against this background that the British started the establishment of research centers in Nigeria since the last decade of the 19^th century that culminated in the establishment of the Institute For Agricultural Research (IAR) in 1922.

Keywords: Establishment, Development, IAR