Growing the future of yam farming in Nigeria

12 May 2026

Yams are more than a staple food in Nigeria. For millions of households, it is a source of income, food security, and cultural identity. Yet, despite its importance, many yam farmers continue to face challenges, including poor seed quality, limited access to improved farming practices, and limited access to profitable markets.

For yam farmers in Cross River State, each planting season, they have to travel over 300 kilometers to Taraba State to source seeds, risking having to pay for unhealthy, unidentified, or infected seeds, among other challenges.

To address these challenges and unlock new opportunities for farmers, the IITA -CGIAR, in partnership with the Cross River State Government, organized a week-long Training of Trainers (ToT) program focused on yam seed technologies, agronomic best practices, and agribusiness development in Cross River State.

Held in Calabar, the training brought together yam farmers, Local Government Directors of Agriculture, State Agriculture Officers, and Extension Agents in a coordinated effort to strengthen the yam value chain and improve productivity across farming communities in 17 local government areas in the state.

At the heart of the one-week training across three locations within the state lies a simple but powerful message: agricultural innovation only creates impact when people have the knowledge and capacity to use it effectively.

The training serves as the first phase of a broader capacity development strategy designed to equip participants with practical skills and technical expertise in modern yam seed systems and production methods. After the training, participants are expected to return to their communities and replicate the knowledge through a structured step-down training model that will reach farmers at the grassroots level in the various communities.

Speaking during the training, Field and Seed Systems Specialist under the IITA Yam Improvement Program, Dr Olugboyega Pelemo emphasized the importance of scaling innovation through human capacity development.

"Technologies like the minisett, vine cutting, SAH, and mini tubers that we have developed at IITA will only become visible when they are scaled, and scaling can become impactful when the capacity of key actors is developed. At the end of the innovative technologies for seed yam production training, the beneficiaries will transfer the knowledge to farmers in their various communities across Cross River State."

The training focused on innovative technologies and Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) for yam production, including improved seed systems that can help farmers increase yields, reduce losses, and improve the quality of planting materials.

The Cross River State Government says the initiative aligns with its broader agricultural development agenda, which aims to empower farmers and strengthen food systems across the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Andiambey Ebokpo, reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting farmers through capacity development and strategic partnerships.

"As part of the agricultural agenda, the government is committed to providing the requisite capacity and resources to support the farmers of Cross River, and this training for yam farmers being facilitated by IITA is the first, as we will be replicating the same initiative across other crops like plantain."

The collaboration reflects a growing recognition that partnerships between research institutions and government agencies are essential for delivering innovation directly to farming communities.

Beyond improving farm productivity, the initiative also aims to strengthen agribusiness opportunities along the yam value chain. By developing community-based seed producers and improving access to quality seed technologies, the program seeks to create sustainable economic opportunities for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.

Speaking during the training, one of the women farmers, Esther Emmanghe from Etung Local Government, said she returned to her community at the end of the first day to share what she had learned with her neighbors, who are also farmers.

"I have already started telling people about the minisett and vine cutting technology, a lot of us farmers and I will put together a group that will start practicing all I have learned during this training," she added excitedly.

Dr Michael Udam, a secondary school vice principal and a yam farmer in Adagom community in the Ogoja local government, revealed that while he had some knowledge of vine cutting and mini-set technologies, the training has been beneficial and he would be passing down the knowledge in his community.

"I am happy that this training is coming at a time when several farmers in the state have been complaining of traveling to far places like Taraba State to get seed yams to plant. With this training, I will start planting seed yams myself, and I am certain some of the other farmers will be doing the same," he said.

The IITA Yam Breeding Program under the leadership of Dr Asrat Amele continues to drive research and innovation that respond to the practical needs of farmers while promoting food security and rural development.

For IITA, the broader goal remains clear: working with national partners in the region to ensure that improved technologies, knowledge, and opportunities reach farmers at scale and contribute to a more resilient and profitable yam sector in Nigeria.

Contributed by 'Timilehin Osunde