Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is considered an orphan crop in Africa due to its relative neglect in terms of research, funding, and policy support compared to cereal crops.
Despite its importance as a food security crop, yam receives minimal investment in scientific research for genetic improvement, pest and disease control, and agronomic practices.
There are limited genomic resources, such as sequenced genomes or molecular tools, compared to widely studied crops.
Unlike major crops, yam lacks efficient seed systems for distributing high-quality planting materials. Propagation relies on tubers, which are bulky, prone to diseases, and expensive.
It faces significant challenges from pests (e.g., yam beetles and nematodes) and diseases (e.g., yam mosaic virus and anthracnose). Limited research has been devoted to developing resistant varieties.
National and international funding priorities often favor crops with higher global production or trade value. Yam is rarely prioritized in agricultural policies, limiting access to national resources like subsidies and extension services.
It is primarily cultivated and consumed in West Africa and a few other regions, making them less globally recognized and limiting global investments in their development.
Yams are highly perishable and susceptible to post-harvest losses due to poor storage infrastructure and practices. Research on improving storage systems has been limited.
Yams are nutritionally rich, drought-tolerant, and culturally significant crop in Africa, making them vital for food security and resilience against climate change. However, this potential remains untapped due to the lack of systematic efforts to develop the crop. Addressing these issues through investments in research, seed systems, genetic engineering, genome editing and policies can transform yam into a well-supported crop with greater contributions to food security and rural livelihoods in Africa especially Nigeria and other yam growing regions. #International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
