Development and promotion of integrated crop product value chains. Efforts to increase crop productivity, frequently hampered by poor quality and high cost of inputs, remain a major preoccupation of producers. While some of the input-related problems can be addressed through biophysical research interventions, others depend on the development of appropriate policies, the absence of which acts as disincentives to producers. Poor infrastructure, narrow product range targeting limited markets, and poor marketing strategies have continued to slow the rate of commercialization of crop-based enterprises. In addition, meeting the stringent market requirement of crop products to facilitate trade has affected profitability and productivity. Increasingly, the profitability of the crops sub-sector products requires improved accessibility to both internal and external markets. 

Dependency on rain-fed agriculture which in most places is inadequate and unreliable has also created fluctuations in the production and supply of agricultural products. Little has been done to exploit the irrigation potential in the country. Across all crop production agro-ecosystems, management of diseases, pests, and weeds requires integrated approaches that are both crop and agro-ecology-specific, affordable, and environment-friendly. Erosion of genetic biodiversity and low adoption of improved crop varieties and associated technologies have impacted negatively efforts to address issues on food security and wealth creation.

The crop's thematic area of research will be expected to contribute to the attainment of the overall institutional purpose through the attainment of its purpose of generating and promoting crops 54 knowledge, information, and technologies that respond to clients’ demands and opportunities. This purpose will be delivered through the attainment of the following five results:

 (i) Technologies and innovations for demand-driven crops product value chains generated and promoted; 

(ii) Markets and marketing strategies for crops product value chains developed and promoted;

 (iii) Policy options for enhancing demand-driven crop product value chains facilitated and advocated; 

(iv)Capacity for implementing integrated crops product value chains research strengthened;

 (v) Availability of knowledge, information, and technologies on crops product value chains research enhanced. 

To contribute significantly to the attainment of the institutional purpose, the crop's thematic area of research will be structured into two broad-based and interrelated research programs as outlined below. Each of the research programs will be expected to contribute to the attainment of the five crops' thematic area of research results. 

(i) Development and promotion of integrated food crops and crop health product value chains; 

(ii) Development and promotion of integrated horticulture and tree crops product value chains.