PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 2:59 PM by Tevita

Nigeria:IITA begins preliminary on-farm trials of new yam growing technique

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in partnership with Nigerian farmers has begun preliminary trials of propagating yam through vine cuttings on farmers’ fields in Niger State, north central Nigeria.
The success of the trials and adoption of the new yam growing technique will substantially cut down the volume of yams used by farmers as seed yams. “The technology will definitely save farmers the cost and pains of acquiring seed yams,” says, Joshua Aliyu, a staff with Niger State Agricultural Development Project, who is also working on the trials. “It is actually a rebirth of yam cultivation in our community,” he adds.

The new yam growing technique has potential to eliminate the transmission of yam diseases (nematodes), which constitute considerable damage to yam tubers, according Dr. Hidehiko Kikuno, IITA’s Yam Physiologist and project leader.

On February 15, IITA and partners announced a breakthrough in the propagation of yams through vine cuttings via a research funded by the Japanese government (MOFA, MAFF), the Sasakawa Africa Association, Tokyo University of Agriculture and the International Cooperation Center for Agricultural Education, Nagoya University, Japan. Other partners in the research include the Tokyo University of Agriculture; National Root Crops Research Institute - Umudike, Nigeria; Crop Research Institute, Kumashi, Ghana and the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Cameroon.

The new yam growing technique makes use of vine cuttings planted in carbonized rice husk (CRH). After rooting and sprouting, the seedlings are transferred to the field or directly planted into nursery bed with CRH under shade.

Kikuno says the abundance and availability of rice husks—the growth medium – in rural communities makes the research relevant.
“This is because farmers can propagate the yam through vine cuttings by themselves,” he says.
In sub-Saharan Africa where the cost of planting materials (seed yams) account for about 50 per cent of the total cost, the new technology is seen as an option that will not only cut down the cost of production of yams but also make available more yam tubers for human consumption.

For more information, please contact:
Jeffrey T. Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org
Corporate Communications Officer (International) Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa) Communication Office IITA - Headquarters Ibadan, Nigeria

IITA - Headquarters
Ibadan, Nigeria
URL: www.iita.org



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DIVA-GIS	Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Posted 2:59 PM by Tevita Nigeria:IITA begins preliminary on-farm trials of new yam growing technique The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in partnership with Nigerian farmers has begun preliminary trials of propagating yam through vine cuttings on farmers’ fields in Niger State, north central Nigeria. The success of the trials and adoption of the new yam growing technique will substantially cut down the volume of yams used by farmers as seed yams. “The technology will definitely save farmers the cost and pains of acquiring seed yams,” says, Joshua Aliyu, a staff with Niger State Agricultural Development Project, who is also working on the trials. “It is actually a rebirth of yam cultivation in our community,” he adds. The new yam growing technique has potential to eliminate the transmission of yam diseases (nematodes), which constitute considerable damage to yam tubers, according Dr. Hidehiko Kikuno, IITA’s Yam Physiologist and project leader. On February 15, IITA and partners announced a breakthrough in the propagation of yams through vine cuttings via a research funded by the Japanese government (MOFA, MAFF), the Sasakawa Africa Association, Tokyo University of Agriculture and the International Cooperation Center for Agricultural Education, Nagoya University, Japan. Other partners in the research include the Tokyo University of Agriculture; National Root Crops Research Institute - Umudike, Nigeria; Crop Research Institute, Kumashi, Ghana and the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, Cameroon. The new yam growing technique makes use of vine cuttings planted in carbonized rice husk (CRH). After rooting and sprouting, the seedlings are transferred to the field or directly planted into nursery bed with CRH under shade. Kikuno says the abundance and availability of rice husks—the growth medium – in rural communities makes the research relevant. “This is because farmers can propagate the yam through vine cuttings by themselves,” he says. In sub-Saharan Africa where the cost of planting materials (seed yams) account for about 50 per cent of the total cost, the new technology is seen as an option that will not only cut down the cost of production of yams but also make available more yam tubers for human consumption. For more information, please contact: Jeffrey T. Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org Corporate Communications Officer (International) Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa) Communication Office IITA - Headquarters Ibadan, Nigeria IITA - Headquarters Ibadan, Nigeria URL: www.iita.org	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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