Yam improvement for income and food security in West Africa: Effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional team-work

The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors

Evaluation of 5 hybrid yams for dry season yam production in lowland areas

A two year trial was conducted at the inland valley of the National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike during the dry season of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005. The purpose was to evaluate the suitability of five hybrid yam clones of dry season yam production. The yams were planted in manually made ridges and laid out in RCB design in three replicates. Fresh yam tuber yield 22.6t/ha; 21.8t/ha: 19.1 t/ha and 18.1 t/ha were respectively achieved from TDr 95/18949: Tdr 97/00925; TDr 03/00193 and TDR 95/19158. These matured earlier and yielded higher than the local best cultivar Ekpe (12.2 t/ha). Farmers that have farmlands that are hydromorphic during the dry season or have irrigation facilities, are encouraged to utilize such lands for off-season yams production so as to ensure year round fresh yam supplies in the market in view of the current pressure on cassava as a staple

Effects of melon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus [L.] Moench) on the soil moisture and leaf water status of intercropped cassava/maize in Nigeria

A two year trial was conducted a11badan to determine the effects of okra and melon on the soil moisture and leaf water status of cassava/maize intercrops. Inclusion of melon into a cassava/maize mixture. Especially where the cassava had sparse canopy, appeared to be an effective means of conserving soil moisture, increasing leaf water status and yield. From the diffusive resistance values of cassava in a cassava/maize! melon mix were at seven weeks after planting (WAP), there were, however, strong indications that melon might be competitive during periods of prolonged drought or low rainfall, where and when reduction in soil temperature. Soil moisture stress and a complete soil cover to cheek erosion are of great importance. Melon could be better intercrop than okra

Productivity of species in cassava/maize/okra/egusi melon complex mixtures in Nigeria

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)/Maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping is so popular in Nigeria that a cassava/maize intercropping package is recommended to small-scale farmers. Farmers insist on including low-growing vegetables like okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) and egusi melon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.) in the complex. Studies were conducted in Ibadan to investigate the effects of inclusion of either or both vegetables on gross economic yields and total land productivity of the cassava/maize-plus-vegetables mixture. Tuber yield of cassava in cassava/maize/okra (15.8 t/ha), cassava/maize/egusi melon (15.1 t/ ha) and cassava/maize/okra/egusi melon (14.5 t/ha) did not differ significantly from that in cassava/maize (16.4 t/ha). Maize grain yield was not depressed by intercropping with vegetables. The economic yields of intercropped okra and egusi melon were reduced by more than 50% of their respective sole crop yields. The cassava/maize cropping system yielded highest calories per hectare per day (18.6 × 104 cal ha−1 day−1) but land productivity, based on land equivalent ratio (ler), was higher where the cassava/maize system (ler= 1.58) included both okra and egusi melon (ler= 1.60)

Farmer participatory evaluation of four hybrid water yam clones in the yam belt of Nigeria

Four hybrid water yam (Dioscorea alata) genotypes (TDa 00/00194, TDa 00/00103, TDa 00/00104, TDa 00/00363) with two superior landraces (TDa 92-2 and UM 680) were evaluated for high and stable yields, pest and disease resistance, and acceptable food and market qualities in 2006 using the farmer participatory (FP) approach. This researcher managed trial was carried out in Umudike (humid forest), Abakaliki and Nsukka (derived savanna), and Makurdi (southern Guinea savanna). Farmers participated in evaluating the genotypes for physiological attributes, yield, and eating qualities during mid-season (August/September) and at harvest. The hybrid yams gave almost twice the tuber yield of the landraces. Also the landraces were scored higher than the landraces in terms of pest and disease resistance, plant canopy, leaf litter, etc. In terms of food quality, TDa 00/00194 (4.0) was rated a little higher than the local best UM 680 (3.9) though this did not differ from TDa 00/00104 (3.5). Results from sensory evaluation and palatability tests showed that TDa 00/00194 and TDa 00/00364 had the highest rating in food quality for amala preparation. In selecting water yams therefore, consideration should be based on sensory acceptance, high dry matter, and low peel loss.Quatre hybrides génotypes d’igname, l’eau yam (Dioscorea alata) (TDa 00/00194, TDa 00/00103, TDa 00/00104, TDa 00/00363 avec deux variétés supérieurs de races- une variété qui tolère l’effort biotique et abiotique ayant pour le résultat la stabilité élevée de rendement (TDa 92-2 et UM 680) ont été évalués pour les rendements élevés et durable, la résistance aux ravageurs et de la maladie et les qualités acceptables de nourritures et du marché en 2006 utilisant l’approche participatives de fermier et vulgarisation (FPE). Cette chercheurs gérés essais a été effectuée dans Umudike (forêt humide), Abakaliki et Nsukka (la savane dérivée) et Makurdi (Sud de la Guinée de Savane). Les fermiers ont participé à évaluer les génotypes pour les attributs physiologiques, le rendement et les qualités consommables pendant la demi saison (août/septembre) et à la récolte. Les hybrides d’igname ont donné presque deux fois le rendement de tubercule des variétés locales. Également les hybrides ont été marqués plus élevées que des variétés locales en termes des résistances aux ravageurs et de la maladie, plante abris et les feuilles mortes etc. Sur le plan de qualité des produits alimentaires, TDa 00/00194 (4.0) ont été évaluées d’avoir une meilleure qualité en comparaison du meilleure de variété locale UM680 (3.9) bien que ceci n’ait pas différé de TDa 00/00104 (3.5). Le résultat d’évaluation sensorielle et l’acceptation de goût ont prouvé que TDa 00/00194 et TDa 00/00364 ont eu l’estimation la plus élevée de la qualité des produits alimentaires pour la préparation d’amala. En choisissant l’eau yam donc, la considération devrait être basée sur l’acceptation sensorielle, la matière sèche élevée et une perte réduite d’épluchure

Yam improvement for income and food security in west Africa: effectiveness of a multidisciplinary and multiinstitutional teamwork

The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors.The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors.The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors.The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors.The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors.The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors.The overall goal of the five year project “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” (YIIFSWA) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria was to: (a) increase yam productivity by 40% for 2,00,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria and (b) deliver key global good research products that will contribute to the 10-year overall vision to sustainably double incomes from yams for 3 million smallholder yam farming families and contribute to ensuring food security for producers and consumers. Implemented by scientists of twenty partner specialized organizations, comprising research institutes, Universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations, YIIFSWA has impacted yam value chain stakeholders through research and development interventions. The significant contributions made in the project during the past 18 months’ period are discussed in this paper. These include: a baseline survey conducted in key yam growing areas in Ghana and Nigeria, training of yam producers on adapted yam minisett technique and production of seed yam, undertaking in depth value chain assessments, developing the capacity of Farmers Organizations (FOs) by linking them to service providers (SPs), participatory evaluation of new yam genotypes, successful development of yam virus diseases diagnostics and development of novel techniques for high ratio yam propagation such as aeroponics and bioreactors