Yam seed system characteristics in Nigeria: Local practices, preferences, and the implications for seed system interventions

Stuart, Esmé; Asfaw, Asrat; Adebola, Patrick; Maroya, N.; Edemodu, Alex; Adeosun, T. A.; Asiedu, Robert; Almekinders, Conny

doi:10.1177/00307270211058209

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In contrast, the low variation within cluster revealed a low degree of genetic differentiation, which may be attributed to regional preferences for some dominant varieties ( Bakayoko et al., 2021 ). As stated by Stuart et al. (2021) , sharing (small amounts) of seed-yam tubers as a gift is a common practice among farmers of the same and or different communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability and genetic merits of white Guinea yam landraces in Nigeria

Agre

Edemodu²,

Obidiegwu³

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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IntroductionLandraces represent a significant gene pool of African cultivated white Guinea yam diversity. They could, therefore, serve as a potential donor of important traits such as resilience to stresses as well as food quality attributes that may be useful in modern yam breeding. This study assessed the pattern of genetic variability, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), alleles, and genetic merits of landraces, which could be exploited in breeding for more sustainable yam production in Africa.MethodsA total of 86 white Guinea yam landraces representing the popular landraces in Nigeria alongside 16 elite clones were used for this study. The yam landraces were genotyped using 4,819 DArTseq SNP markers and profiled using key productivity and food quality traits.Results and discussionGenetic population structure through admixture and hierarchical clustering methods revealed the presence of three major genetic groups. Genome-wide association scan identified thirteen SNP markers associated with five key traits, suggesting that landraces constitute a source of valuable genes for productivity and food quality traits. Further dissection of their genetic merits in yam breeding using the Genomic Prediction of Cross Performance (GPCP) allowed identifying several landraces with high crossing merit for multiple traits. Thirteen landraces were identified as potential genitors to develop segregating progenies to improve multiple traits simultaneously for desired gains in yam breeding. Results of this study provide valuable insights into the patterns and the merits of local genetic diversity which can be utilized for identifying desirable genes and alleles of interest in yam breeding for Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability and genetic merits of white Guinea yam landraces in Nigeria

Agre

Edemodu²,

Obidiegwu³

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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“…More recent studies [50,51] have also reported the high importance yet low commercialization level in yam with households selling less than 23% of the output as ware yam. It is of interest to note that despite Nigeria's ranking as a top world producer of yam contributing up to 71% to world output of yam the country does not feature among the top ten exporting countries in the global yam market [52] [53,54].…”

Section: Commercialization Index Along Key Crops In the Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Agriculture Still the Mainstay of Rural Economies? Insights from Ultra-Poor Households in North-central Nigeria

ET,

TB.,

OA.

2024

AJAEES

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Aims: Nigeria may be facing aging and decline in the population engaged at food production nodes, posing huge challenge to agri-food systems with poverty at risk of deepening. Current trend in rural-urban migration and occupational mobility raises the open question of: “Is agriculture still a mainstay of rural economy, playing reliant roles in income and employment generation for the ultra-poor in Nigeria rurality?”. Understanding this is important because structural change to agricultural workforce in Nigeria has far-reaching implications on food security, welfare, and poverty. We sought to unfold the dynamics of agriculture as a business among ultra-poor rural households in North-Central Nigeria. First, we investigated engagements of ultra-poor rural households in agriculture. Secondly, we examined their level of commercialization. Lastly, we investigated determinants of ultra-poor’s market participation and its intensity. Study Design: This study used quantitative primary data collected in surveys and qualitative data generated from focus group discussions. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in three states in North-central Nigeria viz: Kwara, Kogi, and Niger with data collected and analyzed between 2020-2022. Methodology: We randomly selected 1588 households (out of 60,427 households) from the “Single Register of the Ultra-poor” operationalized on a World-Bank-Assisted Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme. We analysed data using descriptive statistics, Household Agricultural Commercialization Index, and Double-Hurdle Model. Results: Only about 18.7% of the ultra-poor households were primarily engaged in agriculture with the focus groups highlighting conflicts issues from indiscriminate grazing activities as primary reason for the abandonment. Determinants of market participation and intensification include: (-) household dependency ratio, distance to markets, (+) linkage to market agents, access to mechanization and input market, CCT-beneficiary status, and farm size (p<0.05). Conclusion: Involvement in primary agricultural production is declining in Nigeria. We recommend a boost to infrastructural development of the rurality to support agricultural transformation and attractiveness to the next wave of youths.

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“…It is noteworthy that yam farmers can only capture the benefit of the genetic gains from breeding programs when seed systems are well-functioning (Mausch et al, 2021;Stuart et al, 2021;Kalu et al, 2023). Stakeholders, especially seed multipliers, should be trained on how to rapidly multiply seeds.…”

Section: Improving Yam Production and Use In Eastern Drc Would Requir...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming practices, varietal preferences, and land suitability analyses for yam production in Eastern D.R. Congo: implications for breeding initiatives and food sovereignty

Mondo,

Chuma,

Matiti

et al. 2024

Front. Sustain. Food Syst.

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Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a key tuber crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with huge potential for poverty alleviation, food sovereignty, and nutrition security. Exploiting its full potential requires that factors holding it down are understood and mitigated. This study, conducted between May and July 2022 and 2023, assessed yam farming practices, varietal preferences, and land suitability in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We interviewed 765 smallholder farmers within four agro-ecological zones (AEZ) to assess the sociocultural, agronomic, varietal, and biophysical factors affecting yam production. Land suitability analyses were conducted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify areas suitable to extensive yam production and to cluster environments that could optimize yam varietal selection and testing. Results showed that yam is mainly cultivated by women in eastern DRC (70%). The seed delivery system is informal, relying primarily on farmer-saved seeds and farmer-seed exchanges (74.9%). Soil depletion (68.3%), limited access to high-quality seeds (54.5%), youth disengagement in yam value chain (50.3%), insect pests (17.9%), and short tuber shelf-life (65.8%) were, respectively, the main ecological, agronomic, sociocultural, biological, and tuber quality factors hindering yam production in eastern DRC. However, the perceived importance of most factors significantly varied with farmer gender and age categories. A multitude of varietal traits was used to assess yam varieties in eastern DRC, of which the tuber taste (59%) was the most valued trait regardless of gender and age categories, though it had highest scores among middle-aged adult women. Land suitability analyses discriminated five clusters; the most significant part of the region falling under suitable (27%), highly suitable (24%), and very highly suitable classes (37%). We further discussed how breeding initiatives for delivering yam varieties, suiting local producers’ and end-users’ needs, could unlock the crop’s potential for enhancing food security and wealth creation in eastern DRC. The land suitability map from this study is a valuable decision-making tool in defining priority areas for extensive yam production and varietal selection and testing. This study provided valuable insights on factors affecting yam production and suggested yam breeding as a backbone of a holistic approach seeking to address challenges faced in unlocking the potential for yam production in eastern DRC.

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Yam seed system characteristics in Nigeria: Local practices, preferences, and the implications for seed system interventions

Cited by 10 publications

References 14 publications

Variability and genetic merits of white Guinea yam landraces in Nigeria

Variability and genetic merits of white Guinea yam landraces in Nigeria

Is Agriculture Still the Mainstay of Rural Economies? Insights from Ultra-Poor Households in North-central Nigeria

Farming practices, varietal preferences, and land suitability analyses for yam production in Eastern D.R. Congo: implications for breeding initiatives and food sovereignty

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