Yam Minisett Technique developed in the 1E70s, has Neen shown to Ne a - PDF document

Key fact Yam Minisett Technique developed in the 1E70s, has Neen shown to Ne a cost-effective way for Yam species are a staple food for at least 60 million people in West Africa, particularly those Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) project in Kogi and Ekiti States in Nigeria used on-farm and on-station trials to develop, test and promote the Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT). The technique involves cutting yam tuNers YMT, could Ne a viaNle Yam species are a staple food for 60 million people in West Africa Facts & �gures Yam plays a key role in food security in West Africa as a staple for at least 60 million With the healthy seed yam method, a 1 kg yam tuNer can produce more than ten The AYMT enaNles farmers to plant �ve to ten times more yams than traditional methods. Farmers participating in a project in Kogi state earned over twice the pro�t from PuNlished: FeNruary 2013 IITA has received direct funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for this work. In addition IITA has received unrestricted support from Belgium, Denmark, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (GTZ BMZ), Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK’s Department for International production in Ekiti and Kogi States, Nigeria. 2003-200D: On-farm and on-station trials estaNlish the AYMT as a ‘Nest Net’, which could 2006-2006: Seed yams produced using the AYMT results in less losses and remain healthy farmers in Kogi state is pro�taNle, potentially generating twice the pro�t of ware yam By 2006, participating farmers using AYMT experienced, on average, douNle yields of seed Average pro�t per seed yam crop, after harvest and storage, is calculated at over The AYMT reduces the losses during the seed production, storage and following ware yam Better Harvests, More Income for Farmers Using the Healthy Yam Seed Technique Simple Technique to Tackle Yam Diseases PuNlished: FeNruary 2013 Yam is one of the most important crops in West and Central Africa, for food, income and socio-cultural practices. It provides yam and yam products. With a longer shelf Surveys in West Africa have con�rmed unplanted mounds in farmers’ �elds. Yam ediNle portion, the tuNer, which is expensive transport and has a low multiplication ratio. Pests and diseases, carried over in planting material from one season to another, are another major constraint to yam production in West Africa, and make ‘healthy’ planting material hard to oNtain. In the 1E70s, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Nigerian National Root Crops Research Institute developed the Yam Minisett Technique (YMT) for rapid tuNers sold for food). Under YMT, minisetts are dusted with a pesticide and wood ash mixture and planted into a nursery for sprouting, Nefore Neing transferred to the �eld. However adoption rates Projects led Ny IITA Netween 2003 and 2006, in partnership with the Diocesan Development Services (DDS), developed and tested the Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT). This employs a larger sett size of 80g, with setts treated with a water-Nased insecticide and fungicide dip and planted directly into the �eld rather than in a nursery. A 2003-200D project in Ekiti and Kogi States found AYMT to Ne a viaNle method, with the more, larger, pest- and disease-free seed groups, commercial farmers and also agro- input suppliers. However, a livelihoods study in Kogi State found that the relatively high Yam provides income for many smallholders, including women who are ac�ve in the marke�ng of yam and yam products © IITA The AYTa enables farmers to plant 5-10 �mes more yams than tradi�onal methods © IITA PuNlished: FeNruary 2013 training plots for AYMT were scaled up, totalling 16 in Ekiti and Kogi States, and 1D in four other states (ANuja, Rivers, Formal �eld days were held for local farmers and others. although this was not assessed. In Kogi State, the AYMT was Farmer Council programme. Particular emphasis to promote the technology was also made in the Federal Capital Territory using AYMT had less pest and disease infection, which resulted in reduced losses during storage and higher rates of sprouting in the �eld. Consequently, the Nene�ts were magni�ed, with using AYMT, as opposed to the farmers traditional A more recent initiative was funded Ny the UK’s use at scale’. Following the success of AYMT at �eld demonstrations, it was selected as a ‘Nest Net’ technology Ny RIU. Two main locations were chosen, one in the Federal Capital Territory of ANuja, Nank of the Niger River in Kogi State. Here, visits Ny other farmers in the locality. In Kogi, A wide network of stakeholders with an interest in improving yam seed in Nigeria was established © Danny Coyne PuNlished: FeNruary 2013 Carmers par�cipa�ng in a project in Yogi State earned over twice the pro�t from produc�on of seed yam, compared to produc�on of ware yam © Danny Coyne Two inmates harves�ng yam tubers in the trison Carm Centre © Danny Coyne AYMT to Ne scaled up Ny smallholders as a pro�t-making tuNers, using AYMT. The farmers were also trained to make recording their realised costs, revenue and gross margin during production project in Nigeria and Ghana, led Ny IITA. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture - www.iita.org Coyne D., A. Claudius-Cole and H. Kikuno (2010) Sowing the Seeds of Better Yam , SP-IPM Technical Innovation Brief 7. INadan, Nigeria: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. INana S., D. Coyne, A. Claudius-Cole, N. McNamara and S. Morse (2012) Economic Analysis of Commercial Seed Yam Production Systems in the SuN-Humid Ecologies of the River Niger, Morse S., N. McNamara and D. Coyne (2013) Facilitating Healthy Seed Yam Ward A. (200D) Yum, Yum, More Yam, African Farming and Food Processing SeptemNerCOctoNer, pp. 23. PuNlished: FeNruary 2013 AYaT was selected as a ‘best bet’ technology by wIU © Danny Coyne This case study has Neen produced Ny WREN , funded Ny the Swiss Agency for Development           International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Tel: +234 27 D17 472 k.lopez@cgiar.org PuNlished: FeNruary 2013 Yam for Improved Nutrition and Food Security in West Africa International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Tel: +234 27 D17 472 n.maroya@cgiar.org