A geneticist at the University of Ibadan, Dr
Morufat Balogun, on Sunday said Nigeria
produced 70 per cent of the yam grown
annually globally.
Balogun, who is also a researcher at the
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA), Ibadan, said this in an interview with
the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
She said while Nigeria grew 70 per cent of
yam annually, other countries shared the
remaining 30 per cent.
She said between 37 and 40 million of metric
tons of yam were produced in the world
annually.
“Nigeria alone produces 70 per cent of yam
every year all over the world, the remaining
30 per cent is shared among Ghana, Côte
d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin Republic,” Balogun
said.
She said in some areas in Southern America,
some varieties of the commodity were also
produced adding that the production of yam
both for import and export largely depended
on Nigeria.
“If Nigeria stops to produce yam today, the
global production of yam will reduce by 70
per cent and it will affect exportation,’’ she
said.
The expert said production of yam if properly
harnessed, could turn around the standard of
living of millions of farmers and other
investors interested in the business.
She advised farmers to plant more yam so as
to improve the economy, saying that the crop
could liberate Africa from excessive rice
consumption.
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