Yam farmers in parts of Ghana have been exposed to
smart technologies needed to build a resilient cropping system in order to
increase yields to at least 30% over current yields.
With climate change thwarting the efforts of yam
farmers, researchers have emphasized that having a technology packaged with
fertilization, seed treatment, minimum staking and ridging does not only help
farmers to be competitive in meeting yam
export standards but further reduces their production cost.
Ghana’s Crops Research Institute of the Council for
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI), in collaboration with the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria, has trained and disseminated good agronomic practices
to more than 250 yam farmers from Ejura, Atebubu and Kintampo between 2014 and 2016.
This is under the 5-year Yam Improvement for Income
and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA) project funded by the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation.
Speaking to farmers at a field day to harvest the crop
in Atebubu, an agronomist from the CSIR-CRI, Felix Frimpong, stated that the
project has helped to increase yam production and raised income levels of yam
farmers through participatory demonstrations, on-farm trials and farmer’s field
days.
“The project
has helped doubled or in some cases tripped the yield of farmers compared to
their conventional practice. It is estimated that the improved agronomic
package is able raise yields to about 55% over the current achievable yields
in-spite of climate change,” he said.
The improved
technology builds up farmers resilience because the ridging helps in moisture
conservation, the use of the trellis staking reduces farmers contribution to
deforestation as a result of the reduction in the number stakes used by at
least half.
“It is also
evident that the technology promotes intensification on the given area because
of the high population density and arrangements it accommodates. Sprouting
which is also key for yam production is assured because seeds are pre-treated
thereby reducing pest incidence and rot,” explained Mr. Frimpong.
When adopted, the technology ensures better living
standards compared to traditional farming of mounding and planting.
Some beneficiary farmers are excited at the
opportunity to increase yield under with the improved technology.
The researchers have advised policy makers to help
promote such innovations and make available mechanized ridges for commercial
production.
The YIIFSWA project
ended in December 2016 with an expected additional grant for a second phase
upscale.
By Kofi Adu
Domfeh
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