Yam farmers enjoy newly released varieties from IITA in Nigeria

The IITA Yam Improvement Program (YIP) started the distribution of newly released yam varieties recently as part of the Institute’s efforts to help farmers access clean and improved seeds. The pilot phase of the distribution process began in four states—Nasarawa, Niger, Osun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

IITA, in collaboration with the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), has developed and released nine varieties in the last five years. These varieties address some of the challenges faced by yam farmers in Nigeria, such as decline in production, poor yields, poor quality of planting material, low resilience to climate change, as well as high cost of production.

Read more