EPAR Technical Report #207
Mon, 12/17/2012
Authors: 
Kathryn Bergh
Patricia Orozco
C. Leigh Anderson
Mary Kay Gugerty
Abstract: 

This report provides a general overview of the markets for yams in Nigeria. The first section describes trends in yam production and consumption and international trade since 1990. The second section summarizes the varieties grown in Nigeria and their uses, followed by a discussion of the importance of yams as a source of nutrition and household income. The final section provides details about the production and marketing systems for yams in Nigeria, including environmental and gender considerations. Nigeria is the world’s largest yam producer in terms of quantity. Yam production and consumption have increased over the past twenty years, though more recently, production has been somewhat in decline and yields have been stagnant. The Nigerian government has played a more active role in improving agricultural production and export of root and tuber crops including yams in recent years, but so far with limited success. Yam producers and traders report diverse constraints to their full participation in the market, including high cost of inputs, planting materials and labor, lack of credit, limited access to proper, secure storage facilities, and high transportation costs.

 

This report is part of a broader series of reports on crop value chains. Follow the links below to explore the other reports in this series:

Type of Research: 
Literature Review
Research Topic Category: 
Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Livelihoods
Agricultural Inputs & Farm Management
Market & Value Chain Analysis
Geographic focus: 
West Africa Region and Selected Countries
Dataset(s): 
FAOSTAT

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