This is one of 280 summaries describing key outputs from the projects run by DFID’s 10-year Renewable Natural Resources Research Strategy (RNRRS) programmes.
Ways of producing ‘clean’ healthy seed-yams, and an innovative micro-credit scheme, are helping to combat falling yam yields and declining yam quality in West Africa. Because farmers use pieces of tuber to plant their next yam crop, any pests and diseases in the soil get carried over into that crop. Breaking that cycle is easy, however, using the ‘mini-sett’ technique—which involves dipping small pieces of tuber in a mix of insect- and fungus-killing pesticides before planting. A micro-credit facility is also proving valuable to seed-yam producers in Kogi State, Nigeria. These advances can be used throughout West Africa and India, where yam is an important staple food. Posters and fact sheets on yam pests and diseases, and on the ‘mini-sett’ system, are also available.
The CD has the following information for this output: Description, Validation, Current Situation, Environmental Impact, Annex. Attached PDF (15 pp.) taken from the CD.