Global conference calls for more investments on yam research

Increasing funding for research and development on yam will help unleash the potential of the crop, improve livelihoods, create jobs and enhance food security in Africa.

Researchers, policy makers, and representatives from the private sector at the first ever global yam conference in Accra, Ghana, say that recent investments in yam research are paying off, and demonstrating the crop’s greater potential than what is being realised.

“Sustaining and enhancing funding support for yam research and development backed by political will are needed to unlock the crop’s full potential,” says Nteranya Sanginga, director-general, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

He praised the government of Japan, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) for supporting IITA on yam research and called on researchers to develop a vision for the crop.

Known as the ‘king of crops’ because of its contribution to incomes and food security, yam also has high cultural value, especially in traditional marriages in Africa. However, the crop is under-researched due to low funding and this has limited the potential of the crop for alleviating poverty.

“If we attract more investments to advance and expand yam research globally, the anticipated benefits and impacts will be quite enormous,” says Clement Kofi Humado, Ghanaian minister for food and agriculture.

Represented by the deputy minister for food and agriculture, Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan, said there was a need to “soberly rethink through research-and-development, and invest our limited resources judiciously to ensure best results.”

The executive director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Yemi Akinbamijo noted that in spite of the contribution to food security and incomes, African crops such as yam have not commanded the attention they deserved, and have as a result remained under-utilised.

“Yams are unexploited in several aspects: actual yields are lower than potential, utilisation is low for instance in animal feeds, and potential for diversification of yam products among others is unexploited,” he said.

Commending IITA for its contribution to yam research and development, Akinbamijo said that the key to unlocking the potential of yam lies in science and technology and empowerment of the producers, marketers, and consumers to take advantage of what research offers.

According to him, “the challenge is to mobilise the investment required to conduct research and develop the yam value chain into a profitable enterprise for small and large-scale operators alike.”

The Global Conference on Yams, which took place in Accra, October 3 to 6, this year, provided a platform for stakeholders to explore recent innovations in yam improvement, share lessons learned, identify research and development needs, and develop global alliances.