Yam harvest set to feed 131,000 for a year
22 March 2011

Tweet   

Yam plants, tubers ready to be harvested

Yam in storage (often referred to as a yam barn)

Freshly planted yam

Almost a million disease-free seed yam will be produced as a result of the RIU-supported activities in Nigeria. When these seeds are harvested this will equate to enough yams to feed 131,000 people for a year. This is 8,000 tonnes of ware yam (yams for eating).

RIU funding has established 25 seed yam entrepreneurs, based in six states of the 22 yam producing states in Nigeria. They are supported with a package of training and mentoring in business practices, technical support and access to credit. Such is the interest in the programme that additional seed yam businesses are being set up by entrepreneurs who attended the training but received no financial support.

Andy Ward, RIU's crop expert, said:

"This project is in discussions with CropLife International, a global federation representing agrochemical industry, to secure financial support for a trainer in the use of pesticides in seed yam production. However, they are also exploring major investment opportunities to take forward this work programme when the RIU programme finishes in June 2011.

This project is resulting in cultural changes too. Women are getting involved in yam production in areas where it has not been known previously in Nigeria".