YIIFSWA Archives - IITA News

Vice-Chancellor of Uni of Abuja visits IITA Abuja Station

A 5-member delegation from the University of Abuja led by the Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah visited IITA Abuja Station on 14 September. The objective of the visit was to explore the possibility of reviving a 2009 MoU between the University and IITA. Head of IITA-Abuja, Gbassey Tarawali, and the IITA Yam Seed Systems Specialist and former University of Abuja…

Early adopter of YIIFSWA-promoted improved yam varieties enjoys “fantastic” yield

Beaming with pride, Chief Joshua Ojedele showed off his 2-hectare yam field cultivated from improved varieties that he got from the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project. His farm was lush green with healthy foliage, promising a good harvest. All the mounds had at least one yam plant with…

Picture of staff listening to presentations on IITA’s yam R4D work.

Seminar on developments in yam production in Abuja ends with a feast

The yam program at the IITA Station in Abuja organized a series of seminar presentations by scientists from the station to educate staff on the progress made in yam research over the years, as well as providing an interactive platform for information exchange.

YIIFSWA scientist honored by research community

Morufat Balogun, Tissue Culture Specialist with IITA’s Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project has won the 2016 edition of the International Institute for Training, Research and Economic Development (IITRED) prize. The award recognizes her study on Absorbent kenaf materials and method of making and using same; development of high yield…

Picture of Seed yam tubers in aeroponics system.

Initiative announced to improve and make high quality seed yam available

The availability and accessibility of high quality seed yam of improved varieties are the focus of a new US$12 million project aimed at revolutionizing the yam production system. This is intended to transform the formal seed systems in Ghana and Nigeria, Africa’s largest exporter and largest producer of yam, respectively. The flagship yam project, Yam…

Picture of YIIFSWA Project Leader Norbert Maroya cutting the ribbon during the launch of the aeroponics system at CSIR-Ghana.

YIIFSWA: Yam is no longer a seasonal crop

With the aeroponics system (AS), yam production is no longer seasonal,” Norbert Maroya announced in his keynote address at the launch of a newly established AS for high-quality pre-basic and basic seed planting materials production at the The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crop Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) in Kumasi, Ghana, on 10 November. The Yam…

Picture of Dr Morufat Balogun addressing participants at the aeroponics facility at NRCRI.

YIIFSWA/NRCRI train commercial seed producers on high ratio propagation technology for quality yam seed production

The Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project in collaboration with the National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) trained 18 technicians from 11 commercial seed companies on the operationalization of the Aeroponics system (AS) and Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System (TIBS) for high quality pre-basic and basic seed yam production at…

Picture of Setis flask with a forest of yam plantlets of an improved variety.

YIIFSWA to plant 80,000 vine cuttings for seed yam production at IITA and more…

The YIIFSWA project will be winding up in a couple of months; the project has intensified high quality seed yam production efforts. In October the project will start planting 80,000 yam rooted vine cuttings on 2 ha of land at IITA-Ibadan. During an interview on current activities, Norbert Maroya YIIFSWA Project Leader, gave reasons for…

YIIFSWA organizes workshops to share experiences among yam farmers after exchange visits

The goal of the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project is to work towards its 10-year vision of doubling the incomes from yam for three million smallholder farming families who depend on the crop in West Africa, and contribute to food security for producers and consumers. In the next…

Picture of yam farmers selling bad quality yam roots

YIIFSWA facilitates a second farmer exchange visit to Illushi seed yam market

The foremost constraint of yam farmers is the unavailability and affordability of quality seed tubers. To promote seed yam production and commercialization in Ghana and Nigeria, the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project facilitated its second farmer exchange visit to illushi seed yam market in Edo state on 14…