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Yam-growing technique

8 March 2009 8,544 views 30 Comments
Growing yam cuttings using rice husks. Photo by O. Adebayo

Growing yam cuttings using rice husks. Photo by IITA

IITA and partners have developed a tuber-less yam propagation technique. In this innovative approach, yam is propagated through vine cuttings, using carbonized rice husks as the growth medium. The method significantly lowers the risk of nematode infestation from using tubers as planting material, promotes faster multiplication, better and more uniform crop quality, and makes more yam available for food or for sale.

In the traditional system, tubers used as seed take up 30–50% of the production cost. The system is also quite inefficient: the resulting multiplication rate is only about 1:5–10. In comparison, cereals, for instance, have a propagation ratio of about 1:300.

The technology offers a rapid, clean, and cost-effective mass method of multiplying yam. It could effectively address the need for fast and wide distribution of high-quality improved varieties to meet the increasing demand for the crop.

The research is funded by the Japanese government, the Sasakawa Africa Association, Tokyo University of Agriculture, and the International Cooperation Center for Agricultural Education, Nagoya University, Japan. Partners include the Tokyo University of Agriculture, National Root Crops Research Institute in Umudike, Nigeria, Crop Research Institute in Ghana, and the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development in Cameroon.

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30 Comments »

  • Francis Kwaw said:

    I’m a young man who has developed an interest in yam farming. I would be much grateful if you could assist me with modern techniques in planting to get a better yield.

    # 25 September 2009 at 7:44 am
  • Francis Kwaw said:

    I believe it is a nice idea.

    # 25 September 2009 at 7:50 am
  • adu gyamfi prince said:

    I am a student at the University for Development Studies, located in Northern Ghana. I am doing the same project over here, so could you provide me with information about the project (propagating yam vines by using different rice husk medium). Thank You.

    # 8 October 2009 at 3:35 pm
  • collins said:

    please i need detailed information on the procedures for producing yam minisett technology and seed yam multiplication

    # 19 November 2009 at 4:46 pm
  • Edosomwan Daniel said:

    Nice technology. I will be interested in the detailed procedures.

    # 9 January 2010 at 1:59 pm
  • H. Kikuno said:

    Information and photos on mini-sett techniques for seed tuber production, including vine propagation, would be included in the IITA website soon. Please check the iita site at http://www.iita.org from time to time for updated information.

    # 19 January 2010 at 12:27 pm
  • odigie kay ovbokhan said:

    sexual propagation makes possible the production of the genetically variable populations required for breeding. Rapid vegetative propagation is essential for multiplying improved cultivars of yam (Dioscorea spp). Procedures for germinating seed and establishing seedlings and for rapid multiplication using rooted vine cuttings and tuber pieces are discussed. Author’s summary. KEYWORDS: TROPAG | Dioscorea | Root and tuber crops | yam | propagation

    # 20 January 2010 at 10:53 am
  • Ige Theresa said:

    wonderful technology that can promote food securuty and available in Africa. please make this technology available for local farmers through extension agents, in order to achieve these.

    # 29 January 2010 at 12:14 pm
  • Claudia Kaluwin said:

    I come from a place that consumes yams as staple food. the technology is great and will be of help to my people.
    I am interested in the detailed procedures of the tuberless yam propagation.

    # 4 February 2010 at 4:35 am
  • KoJo Amakye said:

    I will be delighted to have a published copy of this work. Where can I find one?

    # 5 March 2010 at 3:36 am
  • DR AKANBI, W. B. said:

    Dear Sir,
    This is an innovative idea. However, I wish you include yam scientists and researchers from neighbouring Universities to popularise the technology among the yam growers. I am a staff of LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO. I had a similar collaboratory trials with Dr Asiedu and Mr Okonkwo last year using seed to produce yam seedlings, plantlets and seed yams. The results is fantastic. I wish to carry out further studies on tuberless yam through your institution. Kindly direct further.
    Thanks

    # 14 March 2010 at 5:18 pm
  • DR AKANBI, W. B. said:

    The technology will reduce cost incurred in procuring planting materials in yam. Kindly extend collaboratory research work to interested researchers. In my Institution, tuberless yam through the use of botanical seed of D. alata was produced last year. It was a fantastic experience.

    Thanks

    # 14 March 2010 at 5:22 pm
  • dappa dabo said:

    I am a farmer in Akuku Toru lga of the Rivers state,and i am elated with you innovative technique in mass producing yam.how do i get started ?

    # 18 March 2010 at 4:06 pm
  • yusuf sfg said:

    the new technology is fantastic and very superb.disseminating the technology to the appropriate farmers is what is needed now. if transfer of technology is embarked upon using pragmatic extension approach, it will definitely remove yam farmers from the poverty cycle and planting material challenge.
    am suggesting preditential initiatives on yam just like cassava since yam has become an exportable commodity to Europe now.
    kudos to iita.

    # 16 April 2010 at 4:10 pm
  • Ray BeBe said:

    I am starting an agricultural project in Cameroon and considering growing yam on a commercial scale. How Do I get started? Interested in detailed procedures of the tuberless yam propagation.
    Sincerely.

    # 20 April 2010 at 8:42 am
  • Pelemo Olugboyega S. said:

    Here comes the best technology for seed yam production. This is a welcome development especially as there will be a drastic reduction in the use of table yam as propagule.

    # 30 April 2010 at 1:38 pm
  • zachary said:

    I have tried this method in Kenya but the vine cuttings do not seem to sprout..what could be the problem? They are already 5 months old!!

    # 9 June 2010 at 5:35 pm
  • Hidehiko KIKUNO said:

    Dear Zachary,

    Thank you for your trials in Kenya.

    Depending on the day-length and age of mother plants, the vine cutting will just form roots and microtubers.

    Aged plants (those plants in the reproductive phase where rapid tuberization and flowering occur) will produce vine cuttings with only roots and tubers, while non-aged plants (plants in vegetative phase where elongating stems and leaves occur before rapid tuberizaion and flowering) under long day-length would produce vine cuttings with roots, shoots, and tubers.

    Tuberization will be enhanced by short day-length while the growth of the top (stem and leaves) will be hampered by short day-length. Long day-length has the opposite effect. For this reason, the best season for vine propagation is under long day-length.

    However, if you harvested small tubers from non-shooted vine cuttings, those small tubers will produce seed-tuber in the next cropping season. They can then be used for vine propagation again after the dormancy is broken.

    Ideal planting materials and season for non-aged plants: 3 months after sprouting with new lateral branches and under long day-length, which promote shooting from vine cuttings.

    Best regards,
    Kikuno

    # 14 June 2010 at 11:46 am
  • Toye Ayankanmi said:

    This is an interesting technology that should be embraced by all and sundry for food sufficiency and export.It is imperative to observe the precautions associated with the technology for good result. I think we are getting there gradually! and this should interest government and donor agency in different countries to assist in continuous research on the subject, training programmes and dissemination of the new innovation to yam farmers for adoption.

    # 28 June 2010 at 10:28 am
  • Oluwole said:

    Where can I get a published copy of the tuberless yam-growing techniques? Pls reply through my e-mail.

    # 1 December 2010 at 3:07 pm
  • john affiku said:

    i am a student intending to carry out a project on suppressing yam sprout using gamma ray, do you think it has a negative implication?

    # 15 February 2011 at 1:22 pm
  • Ayansina David Kayode said:

    I am a believer in the tremendous prospects that await Nigeria and Nigerians in farming. Althouh I am a practicing engineer, I have engaged in commercial farming for about 4 yrs now. I have for the past 3 yrs been cultivating yam and I am crassly excited at this innovation. I am eager to practice it and wish that I could be encouraged. Being able to propagate yam without having to buy yam heads (seeds) will make yam farming a lot cheaper and more profitable.
    How can I start?

    # 18 February 2011 at 4:52 pm
  • Adeosun Stephen said:

    This is a good innovation to the research world, particularly for colleagues in the crop production areas. I suggest we sustain it, build on it, and desseminate it to our local end users (farmers).

    # 14 September 2011 at 4:01 pm
  • bamidele orolu said:

    I am an agricultural student in LAUTECH and i must admit that this is a sign of progress. I would like to be kept posted on this kind of innovations and i also want to get involved in such. I will be glad to make an impact on agriculture.

    # 25 October 2011 at 1:41 am
  • Adigwe Samuel said:

    The news is inspiring. The issue now is where do I obtain the propagated seedlings and when is the planting season for this seedlings in Nigeria? We are about planting with the tuber seedlings. However, getting all the appropriate technical information on this tuber-less seedlings will help one in decision making. This news was published since 2009. Has anyone used it? What result was obtained?
    Anyway, I am seriously interested. please kindly forward where and how to obtain detailed information about the tuber-less seedlings to my email address. Thank You.

    # 27 November 2011 at 11:08 pm
  • OKOLI P. E said:

    I will like to get a published copy of this tuberless yam growing technique.

    # 24 December 2011 at 11:43 pm
  • kayode alofun said:

    Where can I get a published copy of the tuberless yam-growing techniques? Pls reply through my e-mail.

    # 10 January 2012 at 2:02 pm
  • bamidele abdul said:

    This is splendid. It will take the stress off me. I just cut yam tubers up to 5,000 seedlings!
    This new technology is a break through. I am interested.

    # 13 March 2012 at 1:23 pm
  • Saka J. O. said:

    This is interesting, from seedyam to yam vine. More rewarding days ahead for our farmers but kindly collaborate with NARIs in Nigeria for speedy dissemination of this technology to farmers. IAR&T,NRCRI and the other zonal coordinating NARId will be of tremendous collaboratioin

    # 14 March 2012 at 2:54 am
  • otega okperigho said:

    nice work.pls can i have a detailed procedure on the work?am a student of crop science and am working on yam

    # 28 April 2012 at 12:38 pm

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