Yam Minisett Research Articles

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.

ADOPTION OF YAM MINISETT TECHNOLOGY IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Yam minisett technology provides seed yams repidly. It is designed to alleviate the problem of seed yams scarcity, which has been identified as a major constraint to increased yam production. This study examined the adoption of the technology by farmers in Delta State, Nigeria. A random sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents. A sample size of 240 yam farmers participated in the sutdy. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule. Both descriptivew and inferential statistics were used in analyzing data generated by the study. Results of the sutdy reveal that respondents had moderate awareness of yam minisett technology with an overall awareness percentage of 46%. The study also found an overall mean adoption score of 2.24, which indicates a general low adoption of the technology with an overall awareness percentage of 46%. The study also found an overall mean adoption score of 2.24, which indicates a general low adoption of the technology by the farmers. Application of minisett dust with adoption score of 2.05 was the least adopted yam minisett technology item, while cutting into minisett was the most adopted with adoption score of 2.79. The study found a significant relationship between some farmers’ socioeconomic characteristic and adoption of yam minisett technology. Reommendations of the study include that more awareness on the technology should be created among the farmers by the relevant agency through the use of extensions campoaigns, demonstrations and small plot adoption trials (SPAT). Also, farm credit should be granted to yeam farmers through the State Government's Mirco Credit Scheme (SGMCS) to enhance their adoption of the technology.

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.

Factors affecting proportions of land allocated to the mini-sett technology by yam producers in Northern Ghana

The study investigated factors affecting proportions of land allocated to the yam mini-sett technology among 120 randomly selected farmers in Northern Ghana. About 41% of the farmers allocated about 33% of their yam land to the technology. Results from the Tobit regression model suggest that the dissemination of the technology must also target farmers who are non-natives, household heads, less experienced, have large household sizes, and record low yields. The process must consider the type of cropping systems, seed yam production and collaborations with non-formal educational programs. Training must promote positive perception about the technology and proliferation of off-farm income generating activities. Key words: Adoption, Northern Ghana, Tobit, yam mini-sett.

Socio-economic Determinants of the Adoption of Yam Minisett Technology in the Middle Belt Region of Nigeria

The paper assessed the socio-economic determinants of adoption of yam minisett technology in the middle belt region of Nigeria; where 120 farmers were sampled through multi-stage random technique from six villages in two Local Government Areas of Kogi and Benue States. Data collected by structured interview were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and means; and probit regression model. Results showed that 98.33 percent of farmers were aware of the technology while only 9.32 percent adopted the technology. The probit analysis indicated that age of the farmers, farm size, years of farming experience, amount of credit available and frequency of extension contacts were positively related to adoption and would probably increase adoption of the improved yam minisett technology. There is need to increase availability of credit, fertilizers and yam minisett dust, as well as improve extension services in the study area.

Adoption of yam (Discorea spp.) minisett technology in delta state, Nigeria

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Effect of chemical and time of cutting of milked yam Minisetts on storability and Performance of Minisetts

The milked yam minisett technology was developed as a rapid method of seed yam multiplication with an advantage of higher, early and uniform sprouting of setts compared to the normal minisett technology. A study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm as well as AgronomyProcessing and Storage house of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi to test the effect of chemicals and time of cutting of milked yam minisetts on storability and performance of setts in the field. The setts were milked in September and October 2006 and same time in 2007, treated with chemicals and reburied. They were harvested in December and stored for 5 months before planting them out in the field. Results showed that setts milked and cut on October 30 each year recorded the greatest rotting of setts in the month of May of the following year before plantingthem out in the field, followed by setts milked and cut on September 30. The setts milked and cut on October 15 each year, stored better than the others and had the highest percentage germination in storage. The best treatment among setts milked and cut on September 30 (Monceren)yielded more than the best treatment among setts cut on October 15 (Monceren and rizolex) by about 73.6% and the best treatment cut on October 30 (Monceren) by about 194.6%. Also the best treatment among setts milked and cut on October 15 yielded more than the best treatmentamong setts milked and cut on October 30 by about 69.7%. So in terms of the storability of setts, the setts milked and cut on October 15 were the best while setts milked and cut on September 30 that survived storage performed best in the field. The best time to milk and cut the setts is between the end of September and mid October. Monceren fungicide performed better than all the other chemicals.

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.

Extension communication and farmers’ adoption of yam production technologies in south – south Nigeria

The study was carried out to assess the role of extension communication on farmers' adoption of yam production technologies in Nigeria. It was found that yam production technologies like yam minisett, yam/cocoyam/ cassava intercrop, yam/cowpea/maize intercrop, training of vines, use of agrochemicals and yam storage in barns were disseminated to famers to boost yam production. It was found that yam minisett had the lowest adoption rate of 8.57% due to inability to produce immediate monetary benefits to farmers, inadequate awareness, unavailability of training on seed yam multiplication and small size nature of yam minisett, while yam intercropped with cowpea [Vignia unquiculata) and maize [Zea mays) had the highest adoption rate. At the same time, the study showed that agents, contact farmers, posters, bulletins and radio served as sources of information to the farmers. The study also showed that sources of information/communication channels play significant role in creating awareness, helping farmers develop interest, evaluate technologies and adopt technologies, however the study shows that there is no significant relationship between channels of communication and adoption of yam production technologies as farmer adoption depend also on the availability of support services like credits, tenures security, government policy among others.

Factors influencing yam minisett technology adoption by farmers in Enugu state Nigeria

The study was designed to examine the factors influencing yam minisett adoption by farmers in Enugu state, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 96 yam growing farmers in the state. Interview schedules were used to elicit information from the respondents. Data were analysed using statistical tools like frequency, percentages, means and probit model. The results revealed high level of awareness (93.75%) and high rate of adoption (88.74%) of the technology by the farmers. However, further investigation showed that the extent of adoption was low (24.71%). The probit results indicated that age (P=0.05), farm size (P = 0.01), educational status (P = 0.10), membership of farmers' association (cooperatives (P = -0.01), frequency of extension contact (P = 0.01) and access to credit (P = 0.10) were the variables that significantly influenced adoption of the technology. High cost of labour (82%), scarcity/ high cost of fertilizer (81%), scarcity of minisett dust (70%) and lack of loan (57%) were among others, the problems encountered by the farmers in adopting the technology. The study recommended that research and extension should step up promotion of the technology by ensuring that the complementary input are made available to the farmers to enhance adoption of the technology. The farmers should also be encouraged to increase their farm size and join cooperative/farmers association to have easy access to credits, information, input to enable them adopt the technology to increase their seed yam production in the State.Keywords: yam, minisett, adoption, farmers, labour cost, credit

Evaluation of factors driving the adoption of yam minisett technology by farmers in Abia State, Nigeria.

The study was carried out to evaluate the socio-economic factors influencing adoption of yam minisett technology by farmers in Abia State. 120 farmers were purposively selected from the three agricultural zones of the state namely Aba, Ohafia and Umuahia respectively. Primary data for the study were collected on respondents' socioeconomic characteristics, use of minisett technology and constraints militating the adoption of yam minisett technology using structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency count and percentages. Ordinary least square regression analysis of the double log form was usedto determine the socioeconomic factors influencing adoption of yam minisett technology by the respondent farmers. Results showed that farmers fall within the age brackets of 40-50 years. Farm size (t= 2.99),Educational level (t= 2.75) and credit availability (t = 3.03) are positive and significant. (P=0.05) The problems farmers encountered included high cost inputs, and unavailability of credit facility. Others are procurement of land and insufficient extension services in that order. Conclusion is drawn that farm size, educational level and credit availability are the socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of yam minisett technology. It is then recommended that Government should evolve positive policies which will ensure that soft loans are given to genuine farmers at minimal interest rate and the farmers should be monitored to properly use the loan. This will enable them increase their farm size, procure inputs, adopt innovations and consequently improve agricultural production.Keywords: Socio-economic, Adoption, YamMinisett,

On-farm evaluation of the performance of new yam minisett sizes for increased adoption

The mean adoption level and adoption index of the use of 25g minisett size for seed yam production are low (1.81 and 0.36, respectively) because it produces small seed yams which would not ultimately yield very fat yams. And so it could not meet most farmers' objectives in yam production. In order to expand the seed yam production objectives, more proven sett sizes were evaluated using farmer-managed on-farm research approach. Seed yams ranging from 200 to 400g were distributed to farmers who were assisted in cutting them into three sett sizes (25, 35 and 45g). Thirty farmers selected from two villages participated. The percentage establishment, total number of seed yams and total seed yam yield increased with increase in sett size. The smaller the sett size the greater the number of seed yams 500g. Based on the result of the fresh tuber yield, the number of seed yams > 500g and the stability analysis minisett sizes of 35g-45g are recommended for seed yam production.Keywords: On-farm, evaluation, new, minisett, size, performance

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.

Utilization Of Improved Root And Tuber Crops Production Technologies Among Extension Agents (EAs) In Kogi-East Senatorial Zone Of Nigeria

The utilization of improved Root and Tuber Crops Production Technologies among Extension Agents in Kogi State was assessed in 2007. The data were collected sing structured questionnaire and analyzed using simple descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages) and linear regression analysis. Results showed that all (100%) of the sampled EAs were aware of TMS 4(2)1425 while only 45% of them currently plant the variety. Yam minisett technique also had 95% awareness and 40% utilization. TMS 30572 cassava variety also had 85% awareness and 45% usage. Scarcity of planting materials and yam minisett dust was mentioned as factors responsible for the low level of usage of the technologies. The regression result showed that awareness creation on improved technologies had a positive and significant relationship with awareness and utilization at 1% level. It was recommended that Extension/Research linkages should be intensified, and improved varieties of crops should be multiplied and distributed torelevant stakeholders to boost its utilization.

Availability Of Improved Crop Production Practices In Aguata Area Of Anambra State, Nigeria

The study focused on availability of improved crop production practices in Aguata area of Anambra State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was administered to one hundred randomly selected respondents from twenty communities in five local government areas. Data analysis was by the use of frequency distribution, percentages, and mean scores. Findings of the study revealed that that the following improved crop production practices were available to the respondents: adequate crop spacing, optimum plant population, seed dressing, use of fertilizer, use of insecticides, regular weeding, adequate disease control measures, timeliness of planting, yam minisett technology, improved maize varieties, improved cassava varieties, dry season vegetables. Herbicide use was however identified as less available.

Potential for clean yam minisett production by resource-poor farmers in the middle-belt of Nigeria

SUMMARYYam minisett technique (YMT) has been promoted throughout West Africa since the 1980s as a sustainable means of producing clean yam planting material, but adoption of the technique is often reported as being patchy at best. While there has been much research on the factors that influence adoption of the technique, there have been no attempts to assess its economic viability under ‘farmer-managed’ as distinct from ‘on station’ conditions. The present paper describes the results of farmer-managed trials employing the YMT (white yam: Dioscorea rotundata) at two villages in Igalaland, Kogi State, Nigeria. One of the villages (Edeke) is on the banks of the River Niger and represents a specialist yam environment, whereas the other village (Ekwuloko) is inland, where farmers employ a more general cropping system. Four farmers were selected in each of the two villages and asked to plant a trial comprising two varieties of yam, their popular local variety as well as another variety grown in other parts of Igalaland, and to treat yam setts (80–100 g) with either woodash or insecticide/nematicide+fungicide mix (chemical treatment). Results suggest that while chemical sett treatment increased yield and hence gross margin compared with woodash, if household labour is costed then YMT is not economically viable. However, the specialist yam growers of Edeke were far more positive about the use of YMT as they tended to keep the yam seed tubers for planting rather than sell them. Thus, great care needs to be taken with planning adoption surveys on the assumption that all farmers should adopt a technology.

Socio-Economic Characteristics As Correlates Of Adoption Among Yam Farmers In Rural Ikwerre Areas Of Rivers State, Nigeria

This study assessed the correlation between socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers and adoption of yam minisett technology. It was carried out in the Ikwerre rural areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The sample size of the study is made up of 252 yam farmers who were randomly sampled. Interview schedule was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the use of percentages and Pearson Product- Moment Correlation Coefficient (r). Results indicate that complete adoption is as low as 18.6%. Results of the r-values of socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers and adoption at 0.05 level of significance shows that age (r=-0.1149) and farming experience (r=-0.0897) were negative, very low and not significant. Income (r= 0.5540), yam farm size (r=0.5982) and extension contact (r=0.5851) gave positive, moderate and significant correlation. Education (r=0.7658) however, gave a positive, very strong and significant correlation with adoption. In view of the above results, it is recommended that extension efforts concentrated around middle age yam farmers who have higher: income, farm size, extension contact and education will yield a better adoption among yam farmers in this study areas. Keywords: Yam farmers, socio-economic characteristics, adoptionGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (2) 2006: pp. 74-80

Impact Of The Adoption Of Yam Mini-Sett Technology On Agricultural Production In Abia State, Nigeria

The research investigated the impact of Adoption of Yam Minisett technology on the development of Agriculture in Abia State, Nigeria. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select the local government areas, blocks, circles and respondents. The sample size was 312 (156 apiece for yam minisett Adopters and non Adopters). Instrument of data collection was through two sets of structured and pre-tested questionnaires administered on both groups of Yam farmers and ADP officials. The result indicated that the adoption of the seed yam multiplication by the minisett technique impacted significantly in the Adopters farm size, seed yam yield and farm income at given probability levels. The various governments (Local government, State and Federal) were advised to consider the issue of subsidy on agricultural inputs as a matter of urgency and deliberate priority. Keywords: Impact, Adoption, Yam Minisett, Technology, Agricultural ProductionGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 4 (1) 2008: pp. 83-92