Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a culturally significant staple crop in West Africa, providing food, income, and livelihoods for millions. Nigeria, as the world’s largest producer, relies heavily on yam for food security and rural development. The Yam Research Programme of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, is a leading initiative dedicated to advancing yam research, seed systems, and farmer resilience. The Programme has achieved significant milestones in breeding, technology dissemination, and food security. As a central hub for root and tuber research in Nigeria, its achievements range from pioneering rapid multiplication techniques to releasing high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties.

Below are the primary achievements of the Yam Programme:

1. Release of Improved Yam Varieties

The institute has released 38 improved yam varieties between 2001 and 2026, often in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Recent notable releases include:

2. Development of the Mini-Sett Technology

One of NRCRI’s most ground-breaking technical achievements is the Yam Mini-Sett Technology.

• The Problem: Traditional yam farming requires using up to 30% of the previous harvest as seeds, which is expensive and inefficient.
• The Solution: This technology allows farmers to cut small pieces (25g–50g) of a “mother” yam to sprout multiple seed yams, drastically increasing the multiplication ratio and reducing the cost of planting materials.

3. Disease Resistance and Crop Protection

The programme has successfully bred varieties resistant to major yam threats, specifically:

• Yam Mosaic Virus (YMV): Developing genotypes that maintain high yields despite viral pressure.
• Anthracnose: A fungal disease that often devastates Water Yam (D. alata) crops.

4. Post-Harvest and Value Addition

NRCRI has advanced the “State of Knowledge” on the sensory and biophysical characteristics of yam. Their research ensures that new varieties aren’t just high-yielding but also meet the culinary preferences of Nigerians, such as:

• Pounding and boiling consistency.
• High dry matter content for flour production.
• Reduced oxidation (preventing the yam from turning brown quickly after peeling).

5. Contribution to Food Security & Economic Diversification

• NRCRI aligns yam research with national priorities for food security.
• Promotes commercialization of yam production to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
• Supports climate-smart agriculture to ensure resilience against environmental challenges.

6. International Collaboration

The Yam Programme is a key partner in global projects like AfricaYam and the RTB (Roots, Tubers, and Bananas) breeding projects, supported by organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These partnerships have modernized the institute’s labs, allowing for the use of Molecular Markers to speed up the breeding process.

Strategic Focus: The programme emphasizes climate-smart innovations, sustainable agronomy, integrated soil and pest management, post-harvest diversification, and policy engagement. It aims to increase productivity, reduce storage losses, expand market opportunities, and promote technology adoption.