Brief About NSPRI

Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) was established in 1948 as West African Stored Products Research Unit (WASPRU) to assess the quality of exportable crops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Gambia to United Kingdom during the colonial era. It became Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute after the independence in 1960.

The mandate of the Institute stipulates that it shall carry out research into bulk storage problems of export commodities and local food crops. In particular, it shall conduct research into: improvement and maintenance of the quality of bulk commodity crops including cocoa, groundnuts, and palm produce; improvement and maintenance of the quality of local food crops including cereals, grains, pulses, tubers and any other local commodity under bulk storage; special studies such as stored products pests, pesticide formulations and residue and mycotoxin surveys; provision of advice and training of extension workers in problems associated with stored products and materials in storage structures, new insecticides, new items of equipment and techniques; and any other related matters as may be determined from time to time by the Institute.

NSPRI is one of the Research Institutes under the supervision of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Institute’s headquarters is in Ilorin, Kwara State and zonal offices in Ibadan, Kano, Lagos, and Port-Harcourt, as well as outstations in Sapele and Maiduguri.

Key Achievements:
Over the years, the Institute has conducted research on factors causing deterioration and losses in agricultural commodities after harvest and has come up with appropriate methods for mitigating their effects. The Institute has developed proven processes and technologies for preservation of various agricultural commodities which are suitable for household level and small and medium enterprises. The developed technologies are deployed to various parts of the country using an aggressive extension approach.

Notable among the achievements of the Institute are:

1. Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for crop harvesting, handling and storage, warehouse fumigation, and value addition.
2. Development of Improved Inert Atmosphere Silos for safe and long-term storage of grains without the use of synthetic chemicals.
3. Development of Improved Ventilated Crib for dying and storage of maize on cob and other unthreshed grains.
4. Development of NSPRIDUST® a non-synthetic grain protectant for safe storage of grains at the farmers and aggregator levels.
5. Development of Hermetic Steel Drum for safe storage of grains and other dry commodities.
6. Formulation of biopesticides for preservation of grains.
7. Development of Diffuse Light Store for preservation of potatoes.
8. Development of Multi-crop Dryers for value addition to agricultural commodities.
9. Development of Solar Dryers for hygienic drying of agricultural commodities.
10. Development of Improved Smoking Kiln® for drying of fish.
11. Development of Ice Fish Box® for preservation of fresh fish.
12. Development of Solar Cold Storage System for preservation of fruits and vegetables.
13. Development of Stackable Ventilated Wooden and Plastic Crates for improved handling and transportation of fruits.
14. Empowerment of Corp members (NYSC) on utilization of postharvest technologies.