NAERLS is one of the 18 National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. The Institute is responsible for development, collation, evaluation and dissemination of proven agricultural innovations and to research on extension methodologies and policy. The extension and research activities of the Institute take into account the long-term ecological, economic and social consequences of changes in rural life and linkages. These activities are conducted in partnership with the NARIs and international collaborators. NAERLS contributes to national development through technology transfer and adoption process research, extension publications, electronic media packages, and trainings. Its expertise spans the social sciences, agricultural engineering, animal science, food technology, veterinary sciences, agronomy, soil science, fisheries. The Institute adopts the multidisciplinary approach to problem solving. NAERLS has 6 programme areas namely: Crop and Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries, Agricultural Engineering and Irrigation, Agricultural Extension and Economics, Food Technology and Rural Home Economics, and Agricultural Media. The Institute has 5 Zonal Offices, one in each of the 5 agro-ecological zones of the country – Umudike (South-east), Ibadan (South-west), Maiduguri (North-east), Badeggi (North-central), Zaria (North-west).