Partners:

12 February, 2008 Farm Management, University of Ghana, Ghana
Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Accra, Ghana
Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Sunyani, Ghana

Problem:

Yam (Dioscorea spp.), especially white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is a high value commodity in Ghana, but the full potential for income generation both through domestic markets and the export trade has not been realised due to problems and inefficiencies in the production, handling and trading systems. In the case of export this is clearly illustrated by problems of bad/inconsistent quality of yams on arrival at countries of importation such as the UK.  This research programme sought to develop and test integrated technical, economic, social and ecologically acceptable protocols to reduce biological and economic losses inherent in the current system, to improve the quality of yams destined for both local and overseas markets and to strengthen the links between yam producers and exporters.

Achievements:

1. Recommendations to improve the links between yam growers and traders in order to improve the quality and increase the quantity of yams provided by growers.
   Purchase of tubers for export directly from growers rather than through several middlemen as at present would improve quality.  The recommended strategy also depends on providing more secure advanced orders and increased market information to growers, and development of a higher value domestic market to expand demand for quality produce.
   
   
2. Recommendations for the improvement of seed yam quality to reduce fungal infections (other DFID outputs indicate the importance of using seed yams free from viral infection).
   
   
3. Optimal curing, storage and transport conditions for a range of yam cultivars/species over a range of maturity. As well as improving handling strategies, this information would also valuably feed into breeding programmes for the production of yam cultivars with improved marketing potential.
   
   
4. Strategies for improvement of quality during shipping for export by introducing temperature control, providing more accurate technical information to shippers, and clarifying the lines of responsibility.
   
   
5. Improved methods of assessing quality both by sampling/destructive assessment and non-destructive quality assessment methods.
   
   
6. Production of extensive teaching materials in the form of leaflets, photographic material and a video with potential for use to train the stakeholders involved in the yam handling chain.
   
   
7. Recommendations to improve the efficiency and profitability of yam export marketing.