NARCC Constituent Institutes

The two constituent institutes are the Rice Research Station (RRS) at Rokupr and the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) at Njala. There are plans to establish other research institutes of relevance to national development, within the context of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI).

The Rice Research Station (RRS)

The Rice Research Station (RRS) was established in 1934 as a Rice Experimental Station administered by the then Department of Agriculture. In 1953, the station’s responsibility was extended to include the other English speaking West African Countries as the West African Rice Research Station (WARRS). Between 1964 and 1971, the station was attached to the Faculty of Agriculture, Njala University College. It reverted to the Ministry of Agriculture in 1972.

RRS Mandate: is to conduct research aimed at solving biophysical and socioeconomic constraints to increased crop production, processing and marketing.

RRS mandated crops are:

• Rice
• Sorghum
• Millet
• Banana
• Plantain
• Vegetables

RRS is located at Rokupr town, Kambia District, Northern Sierra Leone and is 112 miles from Freetown.

The Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR)

The Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) was established by the Government of Sierra Leone in March 1988 when the Adaptive Crop Research and Extension ACRE Projects jointly funded by the government of United States and Sierra Leone phased out.

Mandate: is to conduct research aimed at solving biophysical and socioeconomic constraints to increased crop production, processing and marketing.

RRS mandated crops are:

• Cassava
• Sweet potato
• Maize
• Cowpea
• Yams
• Groundnut
• Soybean

IAR Headquarters is located on the campus of Njala University College. Njala is about 125 miles from Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone.