Minisett Technique Research Articles

Evaluating the Growth and Development of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) Under Traditional Farming Practices and Controlled Conditions

In Malaysia, specifically Kelantan, there is limited information on the variety of species and optimal production practices for edible Araceae. The study’s objectives are to examine the growth development and survival rates of domesticated edible Araceae species, specifically Cocoyam ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium), cultivated in Kelantan, Malaysia. Two environments were evaluated: a controlled condition using the minisett technique and under natural conditions that using farmers’ traditional management practices. The controlled condition utilized 50% using shade cloth, planted in 20×20 inch polybags, and a mixture of organic soil as the growing media. Fertilizer was applied at weeks 8 and 16, with the control condition receiving twice-daily irrigation. Over 20 weeks, leaf length, leaf width, plant height, stem diameter, and petiole length were recorded weekly for 50 plants. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Based on these results, it can be concluded that X. sagittifolium exhibits strong growth performance, with higher growth rates and better overall development under farming conditions compared to controlled conditions. The survival rate of X. sagittifolium was higher under traditional farming practices (92%) compared to controlled conditions (84%). These findings suggest that the traditional farming practices may be more reliable for cultivating X. sagittifolium in Kelantan.

The role of plant health in the sustainable production of seed yams in Nigeria: A challenging nexus between plant health, human food security, and culture

AbstractYam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a root and tuber crop throughout West Africa and has significant nutritional, economic, and cultural value, which underpins its importance for the food security of many people who live there. The crop is propagated vegetatively, primarily via the planting of small whole tubers (seed yams) and pieces (setts) cut from larger tubers. However, the use of such vegetative material means that a variety of pests (primarily insects and nematodes) and diseases (primarily fungal and viral) can carry over and multiply from season to season. This paper sets out the plant health issues associated with yam, and how these have been addressed by improving the availability of good quality planting material, especially via the Yam Minisett Technique (YMT) and the more recently developed Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT). Both approaches are based on the planting of “minisetts” treated with pesticide to produce seed yam free of pests and fungal pathogens, but there have been challenges regarding their adoption by farmers. The paper explores these challenges and how these attempts to improve plant health fit into a wider discussion of the sustainability of yam production in West Africa given that there are other driving forces of climate change, globalization, and urbanization at play in the region.

Environmental and economic impacts of pesticide treatment in the Yam Minisett Technique

AbstractWhite yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is an important tuber crop in a number of countries, but especially in West Africa where it serves as a food staple as well as a cash crop as excess production is sold in local markets. But the availability of quality planting material, most notably seed yams, for yam production remains an important constraint for farmers. Techniques have been developed to help address this limitation by cutting yam tubers into pieces (minisetts), treating them with the pesticide either via a seed dressing dust or pesticide ‘dips’ and planting to grow seed yams of the required size and quality. But while there have been many studies on the agronomy and adoption by farmers of these techniques, there have been fewer studies on their economic performance. Indeed, to date there have been no studies that compare the economic performance of treating setts compared to leaving them untreated, and neither has there been any analysis of the environmental impact of treating setts. This paper reports the results of a study designed to address these two gaps in knowledge and is based upon results from a series of farmer-managed seed yam plots established in the middle belt of Nigeria over 4 years (2013–2016). Results suggest that revenue and gross margin were higher for treated versus untreated setts although the latter still performed relatively well. Using the Field Use Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), the commonly recommended pesticide sett treatments were estimated to have a low-to-moderate environmental impact, and further research is needed to see how far pesticide use can be reduced to still be effective and minimise any environmental impact.

Quality planting material for productivity enhancement in tropical tuber crops

Tropical tuber crops assume importance to ensure food security to ever increasing population in our country. They are considered to be climate resilient crops. Tropical tuber crops include cassava, sweet potato, aroids, yams and minor tuber crops. However, inadequate availability of quality planting material (QPM) is a major handicap faced by farmers for productivity enhancement in these crops. The major constraints faced for quality planting material are low multiplication ratio, lack of availability of healthy planting material, longer time for released varieties to reach farmer, high cost of planting material and difficulty in transportation. Hence quality planting material can be produced by minisett technique, vine cutting technology, micropropagation and true seed production. Among this, minisett technique is becoming popular in the coming scenario. Standards for healthy planting material of different tuber crops have been formulated by CTCRI (2017) [9]. By adopting proper technology, it will be able to increase the production of tuber cops to meet the ever-growing population.

Potential returns to yam research investment in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Lack of good-quality planting materials has been identified as the most severe problem militating against increased agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and beyond. However, investment of research efforts and resources in addressing this menace will only be feasible and worthwhile if attendant economic gains are considerable. As a way of investigating the economic viability of yam investment, this research has been initiated to address problems confronting yam productivity in eight countries of SSA and beyond: Nigeria, Ghana, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Papua New Guinea, Jamaica, and Columbia. Research options developed were to be deployed and disseminated. Key technologies include the adaptive yam minisett technique (AYMT), varieties adapted to low soil fertility and drought, nematode-resistant cultivars (NRC), and crop management and postharvest practices (CMPP). This article aims at estimating the potential economic returns, the expected number of beneficiaries, and poverty reduction consequent to the adoption of technology options. Estimates show that the new land area that will be covered by the technologies in the eight countries will range between 770,000 ha and 1,000,000 ha with the highest quota accounted for by AYMT. The net present value will range between US$584 and US$1392 million and was highest for the NRC. The CMPP had the lowest benefit-cost ratio of 7.74. About 1,049,000 people would be moved out of poverty by these technologies by 2037 in the region. These technologies are less responsive to changes in cost than that in adoption rate. Therefore, the realization of the potential economic gains depends on the rate and extent of adoption of these technologies. Giving the knowledge-intensive nature of some of these interventions, capacity building of potential adopters will be critical to increasing the sustainability of the yam sector, thereby enhancing food security and reducing poverty.

Pesticide residues in seed yams produced using the adaptive Yam Minisett Technique

ABSTRACT This paper provides the results of the first research designed to test for pesticide residue analysis conducted on seed yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) tubers produced via the Adaptive Yam Minisett technique (AYMT). AYMT uses a pesticide-based water dip to treat setts (~75 g) cut from a yam tuber, and these setts are planted to produce healthy seed yams. While the dip is known to be effective in terms of sett survival in the field along with quantity and yield of seed yams produced, one potential issue is the carry-over of chlorpyrifos from treated setts into the seed yams. The research reported here describes the results from an experimental plot established in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria designed to address this issue. A total of 54 seed yam tubers (18 seed yams from each plot) were analyzed from control (untreated), half-dose and full-dose pesticide dip treatments and results show that there is no carryover of chlorpyrifos from treated setts into the seed yams. There may also be potential to significantly reduce pesticide concentration in the dip, although this requires further research before a new recommendation can be developed.

Analysis of Yam Minisett technique adoption in Nigeria

ABSTRACTWhite yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) is an important tuber crop grown throughout West Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Propagation of the crop is primarily vegetative, through the use of small whole tubers (seed yams) and cut pieces of tuber (setts) planted to produce the larger tubers (ware yams) that households consume and sell. The Yam Minisett Technique (YMT) was introduced in Nigeria in the late 1970s as a means of increasing the production of seed yams. The YMT is different from many other agricultural technologies in that it requires farmers to do something – cut their tubers into small pieces – which they feel based on experience is potentially damaging as it causes rot. Indeed, the existing literature suggests that adoption of the YMT tends to be low and variable. However, to date there has been no systematic analysis of the existing literature on YMT adoption designed to explore which factors are reported to be the most important and why. Hence, the objective of this paper is to analyze the YMT adoption studies published to date to explore which factors are particularly important, and how this may help guide future research in YMT adoption. The results suggest that uncertainty – risk and ambiguity aversion – as perceived by farmers is a key consideration in YMT adoption and needs to be considered in future work.

Agronomic and economic performance of seed yam production using minisetts in the middle belt of Nigeria

ABSTRACTWhite yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is an important tuber crop of West Africa and the Caribbean, and one of the key limiting factors in its production is the availability of good quality planting material. The Adaptive Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT) was designed to help overcome this constraint. The paper presents an analysis of agronomic and economic data collected across four years (2013 to 2016) of AYMT plots planted in two areas within the middle-belt of Nigeria. Of the 136 plots that were established, 11% were lost to flooding and damage from Fulani cattle. Mean yield was 13.16 t/ha, 17,747 tubers/ha and the mean tuber weight was 0.73 kg. Plot yield declined with an increase in planting time, while plots owned by female farmers were on average planted later than those owned by their male counterparts; this helps explain the effect of gender noted in a previous study. Differences in yield were also noted between the two areas, which could also partly be explained by differences in planting time. The plots were profitable, with a mean cost over the four years of Naira 915,196/ha, revenue of Naira 3,197,786/ha and gross margin of Naira 2,282,591/ha (equivalent to US$4,039, US$14,319 and US$10,280 respectively). The main factor influencing costs and revenue was year, with no effect of gender. There is a need for more research on planting time in AYMT and how it interacts with factors, such as yam variety.

Rapid multiplication of Kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica Salisb.) through minisett technique and nursery management

The experiment was conducted at Vellayani (Kerala) during 2014 with an objective to standardize minisett method of propagation and nursery techniques for rapid mass multiplication of Kasthuri turmeric. The investigation was taken up as two experiments. In experiment I best pre-sprouting treatments for rhizomes and in experiment II best soil-less coir pith based nursery mixtures for growth of Kasthuri turmeric seedlings were studied. The result indicated that rhizome bits with three node (approximate weight -7g) subjected to pre-treatments with benzyl adenine 100 ppm for 24 hrs was recorded the highest sprouting (95.60%). The improved method of protray seedling production using sprouted rhizome bits and coirpith + vermicompost + Trichoderma (1:25) media in 1:1 combination resulted in sturdy, uniform and healthy seedlings for transplanting in the main field.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF THE ADAPTED YAM MINISETT TECHNIQUE IN NIGERIA – PLANTING DATE AND GENDER OF THE FARMER

SUMMARYThis paper describes the results of 3 year's data from farmers using the Adaptive Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT) to produce seed yams in Nigeria. A total of 30 sites were established each year between 2013 and 2015 in the Idah area (Kogi State) of Nigeria and 58 plots in the Amoke area (Benue State) in 2015. Each site had yam setts (80 to 100 g) untreated and treated with a pesticide ‘dip’ prior to planting and farmers (male and female) were free to select the variety and manage the sites as they wished. In line with previous research, the results suggest that treatment does increase the weight of tubers produced by a sett but not necessarily the number of tubers. Varietal differences were also observed. For the first time, the results suggest that the time of planting does have a significant impact on seed tuber weight, with later planting leading to small tubers. Also, the gender of the farmer had an impact on some of the agronomic variables, with male owners of the site generally producing more and larger tubers per sett planted and sprouted than female owners. Various mechanisms for the latter are discussed in the paper.

Fostering entrepreneurship to help provide a sustainable clean seed yam production system in flood prone areas of Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria

ABSTRACTThe article outlines some of the findings and insights achieved from efforts to establish a sustainable seed yam (Dioscorea rotundata) supply system in Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria. The activity was part of a project entitled “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa,” spanning from 2012 to 2016, and this article covers the results of a novel and ambitious intervention designed to establish seed yam entrepreneurs as part of a wider initiative to establish a sustainable seed yam value chain in an area where none had previously existed. Seed yam production by the entrepreneurs was based on the adapted yam minisett technique (AYMT) and results between 2013 and 2015 suggest that the agronomic performance of AYMT under “farmer-managed” conditions was good, with reasonable yields of yam and an average weight (0.8 kg) in the required range for grade 1 seed yams. The entrepreneurs achieved a good economic return (gross margin) and this translated into a return on investment of around 400–600%. However, for the seed yam system to be sustainable in the Idah area, there is a need to establish a value chain that links traders with growers.

Factors limiting the yam minisett technique adoption: A review

The yam minisett technique was developed to overcome the scarcity of seed yams, and has been introduced to farmers more than any other scientifically improved yam propagation method. However, the adoption rate of this technique has not significantly improved over the years. This paper presents an overview of the factors contributing to the low adoption rate of the technique since its deployment in Nigeria. Three main classes of factors influencing the adoption of the yam minisett technology are presented; informational factors, technical factors and economic factors. Among the informational factors, low rate of extension contact coupled with low membership of social groups has negative impacts on the level of awareness of the technology. Issues relating to technical and economic limitations are the major challenges faced by the minisett technique adopters. Among these, the low survival and sprouting rate of minisetts, high labour costs and low level of capital are of utmost importance.

IMPACT OF THE ADAPTED YAM MINISETT TECHNIQUE ON WARE YAM (DIOSCOREA ROTUNDATA) PRODUCTION UNDER FARMER-MANAGED CONDITIONS IN NIGERIA

SUMMARYWhite yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a major root crop grown throughout West Africa and a major limitation on its production is the availability of good quality (i.e. free of pests and diseases) planting material, notably seed yams. One of the methods developed to address this limitation is the Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT) and since 2012 the AYMT has been promoted in both Nigeria and Ghana via a Bill and Melinda Gates funded project entitled Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA). While previously published studies have focussed on the agronomy of the sett-to-seed yam process, there has been no work done on the seed-to-ware yam stage which is critical in terms of farmer income and livelihood. This paper provides the first published evidence obtained under entirely farmer-managed conditions in Africa that shows seed yams produced via the AYMT can generate agronomic benefits in the water yam stage, including better germination, tuber numbers and weights.

Effects of planting methods and tuber weights on growth and yield of yam cultivars (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) in Gabon

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of planting methods and tuber weight on growth and yield of local yam cultivars obtained by the minisett technique from white yam (D. rotundata) in Gabon. Trials were carried out in 2014 and 2015 at the experimental ground of the Higher National Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnology, under natural conditions of lightness, temperature and relative humidity. Twenty- four weeks old mini tubers obtained from local cultivar MVA of D. rotundata were harvested, weighed and categorized (40-80g; 100-150g; 200-300g), and three planting methods (horizontal, oblique and vertical),arranged in ridges constituted the main factors. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design with eighteen treatments and two replications. Data pertaining to sprouting were recorded for 30, 60, 90 and 180 DAP, for tuber length (cm), tuber weight (Kg) and number of tubers per plant 270 DAP. Significant differences among tuber weight in all variables tested were observed. The larger tubers had better sprouting ability than the rest of the tuber weight. The methods of planting had no effects on yield and its components but they affect the depth and spread of tubers. Vertical planting produced deeper but more compactly arranged tubers while horizontal planting produced tubers which were shallowerbut more widespread. Slanting was intermediate for both depth and spread. The number and weight of tubers obtained from mini tubers planted out according to slanting method were significantly different (P< 0.05) from other planting methods. The production of seedlings from mini tuber is an improvement of traditional production of seed yam. Mini tubers must have at least 100-300 g and they should be planted slanting or vertically.

Improved propagation methods to raise the productivity of yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.)

White Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) is an important staple to millions of people in West Africa. Obtaining good quality planting material for yam cultivation is a major challenge. Multiplication ratios are low, and seed tubers are prone to contamination with pests and pathogens in the traditional systems of production. Some approaches to producing quality seed of yam are as follows: farmers select small whole tubers from a ware crop harvest; stimulate the production of seed tubers by ‘milking’ ware tubers while the leaves of the plant are still green (double harvest system); cut ware tubers into setts about the same sizes as regular seed tubers; or use the ‘Anambra’ system where smaller setts are cut and used to produce seed tubers. New methods that have been developed to address some of the challenges of quantity and quality of seed tubers are not yet widely applied, so farmers continue to use traditional methods and save seed from a previous harvest to plant the ware crop. This document presents an overview of traditional and modern methods of seed yam production and gives a perspective for the future. Among the modern methods of seed yam production, only the minisett technique, which uses 25–100 g tuber pieces, is currently used at farmer level, although on a limited scale. While tissue and organ culture techniques are the most rapid methods of multiplying disease free propagules, their limitations include high costs, need for skilled personnel and specialized equipment. The aeroponics and temporary immersion bioreactor methods of producing seed yam are relatively new, and still need more research. To build and sustain a viable seed yam production system, a multiplication scheme is required that combines two or more methods including tissue culture for cleaning the seed stock.

THE ADAPTED YAM MINISETT TECHNIQUE FOR PRODUCING CLEAN SEED YAMS (DIOSCOREA ROTUNDATA): AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND VARIETAL DIFFERENCES UNDER FARMER-MANAGED CONDITIONS IN NIGERIA

SUMMARYWhite yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a major root crop grown throughout West Africa but one of the major factors that limits its production is the availability of good quality planting material. This paper described the results of farmer-managed demonstration plots established in 2012 and 2013 designed to promote the Adapted Yam Minisett Technique (AYMT) in Nigeria. The AYMT was developed between 2005 and 2008 to produce quality seed yam tubers at a cost that is viable for small-scale farmers. Since its development the agronomic performance of AYMT has not been explored across a large sample of farmers, and neither has there been any attempt to explore possible varietal effects although farmers have often alluded to this. This papers seeks to address these gaps in the literature and the results suggest that the AYMT does succeed in producing seed yams of the required size and the economic returns are also good. Results also suggest that there is a varietal affect with AYMT, including a significant interaction with pesticide treatment; the first time this has been demonstrated.

The State of Adoption of Yam Minisett Technique in Imo State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to determine the state of adoption of yam minisett technique by farmers in Imo State. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select 90 respondents (yam farmers) from the area. Structured questionnaire was used to obtain useful information from the respondents. Results showed that 72% of the respondents were between 41 – 60 years of age, 56.7% were married, all attended formal education, 88% had above 5 years farming experience and 45.6% had below N100,000 net annual income from yam production. Findings also indicated that only 36.7% of respondents adopted the yam minisett technique. Age of the farmer, level of education, farming experience, educational level of farmers were factors found to have significant effect on adoption of the yam minisett technique. The farmers were also constrained by scarcity of inputs, low capital outlay, difficulty in obtaining loans, poor market for products and poor extension visit.

Facilitating Healthy Seed Yam Entrepreneurship in the Niger River System in Nigeria

This paper explores the results of a programme designed to facilitate entrepreneurship centred on healthy seed yam (Dioscorea rotundata) production on the eastern bank of the River Niger. Ware yam farmers residing along the eastern bank, upstream of the Niger/Benue confluence, source their planting material from towns such as Ilushi in Edo state, which involves significant travel and expense. The project encouraged 10 ware yam farmers living in Edeke village (Idah local government, Kogi state) to specialize in healthy seed yam production by employing the adapted yam minisett technique (AYMT). This employs a sett size of around 80–100 g treated with a joint insecticide and fungicide dip. The treated setts are planted directly into the field, not first planted into a nursery as with the yam minisett technique (YMT). The Edeke farmers received a loan from the Diocesan Development Services (DDS) to employ the AYMT to produce healthy seed yams on a significant scale. However, while sales of seed yam by four of the farmers generated a significant and positive gross margin, six farmers opted to plant their seed yams in the subsequent season (2012) to produce ware yams. This paper presents some of the results, and discusses the decisions taken and the dilemmas faced by the farmers in the production of seed and ware yam and the possibility of initiating and developing new markets for seed yam in the Idah area.

Influence of plant prunings on soil properties and yield of yam minisett

The importance of the application of agroforestry prunings on improvement of the soil organic matter cannot be overemphasized. The study focused on the influence of plant prunings on soil properties and yield of yam minisett. There is no doubt that effective production of seed yam through minisett technique requires adequate plant nutrient to be available in the soil. The study revealed that application of agroforestry prunings improved soil exchangeable K. The study showed that the plant prunings of Gliricidia sepium seem to be the best of the prunings used in this study in terms of total yield (t/ha), nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium addition to the soil. The resulting effect of this is improvement in the yield of yam minisett.

Assessment Of Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption And Utilisation Of Major Agricultural Technologies Developed By International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

The study investigated the adoption and perception of farmers in Akinyele Local Government of Oyo State, Nigeria of technologies developed by International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and their relationships with theadoption of technologies were also determined. Survey data from 200 farmers in four purposively selected villages were used. Findings revealed that the on-farm trials by IITA scientists with farmers in the local government influenced the adoption of some the technologies. The improved cassava and maize varieties, rapid multiplication of cassava and seed yam minisett technique had the highest adoption. Non-adoption of some technologies was attributed to inadequate information and missing knowledge, lack of awareness of the technologies and lack of follow-up by extension staff. Level of respondents’ education, participation in on-farm trials, contact with extension staff and years of farming had significant relationships with adoption. The study therefore recommended intensification of adequate and effective research – extension -farmer linkages and possible establishment of extension liaison services by international agricultural research centers for easy and better dissemination of their research findings.