Yams are herbaceous, climbing,
twining, perennial monocots that are the starchy, tuberous roots of any of the
many climbing Dioscorea vines that may be found in warm climates, whether they
are cultivated or not. A survey was conducted to look into potential causes of
yam health issues while being stored at the farm gate in some of Ghana's most
important yam-producing regions in the Nanumba North District. The goal was to
gather information directly from sources in order to further investigate ways
to increase yam quality and shelf life for both domestic and international
markets. Five localities and one hundred respondents were chosen using a
straightforward random sample procedure. Data were gathered using a mixed
method study design and tools and procedures from participatory research
appraisal. conversations between individuals, observations further used focus
groups talks. SAS software was used to quantitatively analyse the data using
descriptive statistics. The bulk of respondents (all men) were illiterate and
ranged in age from 11 to over 60. Twelve (12) varieties were found, with
Laribako, Fuseini, Alando, Prinjo, Nawari (water yam), Akaba, Baatoo,
Nyame-Nti, Afayili, Baffoo, and Pona being the most often planted, either by
themselves or in combination with other cultivars on the same plot. The
agronomic, harvest, and postharvest methods and technology required for storage
by the respondents were insufficient. There were "in situ" barns,
wooden platforms, short pits, bundles of ashes, and pyramidal piles among the
storage structures. On yam fields, reports of pest and disease outbreaks were
made. Why yams are healthy Termites, rats, mealybugs, rodents, weed pests,
tuber rot, yam beetles, snakes, scorpions, and inadequate storage building
conditions were issues that needed to be addressed in the shop. In order to
enhance and certify yam sets, research, government, and other stakeholder
institutions should collaborate to make them available and inexpensive.
Agronomic, harvest, and postharvest methods and technology should be made
available to farmers through intensified agriculture extension programmes.
Author(s) Details:
Moomin Abu,
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University for
Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Kwara Francis Adzigiwe,
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development
Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RHAS-V1/article/view/7827
