4.2.3
Strategic Focus
The Root, Tuber and Grain Legume Crops Programme is coordinated and implemented by the Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC). The Programme is expected to enhance sustainable productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of the root, tuber and grain legume crops. In order to do this, the Programme is expected to contribute to the delivery of the overall institutional purpose through the attainment of its purpose of Generating and promoting innovative root, tuber and grain legume crops technologies and empowerment of stakeholders. The Programme shall deliver this purpose through the attainment of the following five strategic results: (i) Appropriate root, tuber and grain legume crops product value chains technologies and innovations generated and promoted. (ii) Appropriate markets and marketing strategies for enhancing root, tuber and grain legume crops product value chains developed and promoted. (iii) Appropriate policy options for enhancing root, tuber and grain legume crops product value chains facilitated and advocated. (iv) Capacity for implementing root, tuber and grain legume crops product value chains research strengthened. (v) Appropriate mechanisms for managing, sharing and up scaling root, tuber and grain legume crops knowledge, information and technologies established and operationalized. In order to contribute significantly to the attainment of the overall institutional purpose, the Root, Tuber and Grain Legume Crops Programme shall focus on nine product value chains outlined below. The importance of each product value chain in contributing to the national economic growth and agricultural sector development as well as improvement of livelihoods, income generation and food security shall be determined through prioritization process discussed in chapter three. The allocation of resources for research shall then be based on the results of the priority setting process. Each of the intervention strategies to be carried out under each product value chain shall be expected to contribute to the attainment of the five Programme strategic results. (i) Development and promotion of Cassava product value chain. (ii) Development and promotion of Yam product value chain. (iii) Development and promotion of Sweet Potato product value chain. (iv) Development and promotion of Irish Potato product value chain. (v) Development and promotion of Cocoyam product value chain. (vi) Development and promotion of Cowpea product value chain. (vii) Development and promotion of Soybean product value chain. (viii) Development and promotion of Pigeon Pea product value chain. (ix) Development and promotion of Groundnut product value chain.
Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute
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Strategic Plan 2012-2021