Studies

Promoting Commercialization of Seed yam through the Minisett Technology

With the growing demand for yam, both domestically and internationally, farmers need to expand their production. However, to enable the farmers expand as desired there is the need to improve the seed yam production base.

By commercializing seed yam production, jobs will be created for the youth and the investors who will generate some income to enhance their livelihoods.

The availability, accessibility and affordability of seed yam would conveniently afford the farmers expand their production and thereby off-loading more yam onto both the domestic and international markets.

By so doing, more foreign exchange would be earned for the country while enhancing food security and rural livelihood at the domestic level. 

The farmers would also access sufficient seed yam to do double cropping in a year. Since there are currently no commercial seed yam suppliers, an investor can benefit from all the benefits of being a first mover in the market. The investor would also benefit from the lack of competition and would be able to build a strong brand.

Objective

The main objective of the commercial seed yam production is to ensure the availability and accessibility of healthy seed yam at affordable prices.

Specifically, the commercial seed yam production would:

• Introduce the yam minisett technology to commercial seed yam producers
• Create investment opportunities for investors
• Create jobs and sources of income for the rural poor
• Make seed yam available in the right quantities and quality at affordable prices for farmers

Method

To achieve the above stated objectives, RTIMP under the minisett initiative trained 616 small-scale yam growers (490 males, 126 females) and 120 commercial yam growers (100 males and 20 females) in 28 districts to produce healthy seed yam.

Ninety-Seven (97) out the 120 commercial farmers were each supported by RTIMP to establish a quarter of an acre each, using the minisett technology.  

Minisett is based on a simple technology whereby one tuber is used to produce multiple seed yams that lead to the cultivation of healthy tubers. In this technology, one yam tuber can be cut into approximately 40 pieces (setts) of about 50-100 grams each. 

The setts are dipped in fungicide and nematicide which kills any infections already present before planting and minimises diseases from appearing once planted. The yam setts then produce disease free seeds, which are ready for harvesting about five months after planting. The planting is normally done on ridges. Harvesting would usually be done in April.
 

Results/Discussion

Out of the 120 commercial yam farmers trained in the minisett technology, 97 of them adopted the minisett technology. The adoption of the technology coupled with Good Cultivation Practices has increased the income of these commercial yam growers. 

The initiative has reduced the cost of production by 50 % (cost of seed yam). 

The minisett technology has increased farmer returns from 3,087 Ghana Cedis (Ghc) to Ghc 5,360 per acre. 

Comparing the cost of land preparation between the traditional seed yam production and the minisett technology, it was observed that, minisett technology was Ghc40 higher than the traditional method where mounding was done manually. 

Returns on the use of ridges for the minisett was Ghc2,273 higher than the traditional, thereby maximizing the profit of the minisett farmer.

The minisett technology has very good prospects for the commercial seed yam producers