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.