Description

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Yam in West Africa examines a crop that has been sidelined and ignored for too long while being central to the existence of so many and consumed worldwide. In this book, Felix Nweke attempts to unravel the contradictory nature of the yam crop sector in West Africa by looking at the largest issues in the problematic industry.

Yam production is concentrated in West Africa, which is responsible for more than 90 percent of the 50 million tons produced annually around the globe. Though the crop can attract high prices, too often its producers live in penury. Regional issues drive up labor costs of food crops because of dependence on obsolete technology. In addition, certain agronomic practices that are peculiar to yam production remain unchanged, and pests and diseases still ravage the crop. Yam in West Africa investigates solutions to these problems with the aim of expanding yam production, increasing sales, helping farmers, and bringing more of this staple food to those who need it. The future of the yam is bright; this book aims to make it more so.

About the Author

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Felix I. Nweke has been Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nigeria, senior economist at International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and visiting professor at Michigan State University, among other positions. In 2012 he received a lifetime achievement award for leadership in tropical root crops research.

Praise For…

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“Felix Nweke has successfully identified the impediment to farmer adoption of yam minisett technology; researchers should confront the challenge of nematodes and viruses in yam and donors should support them.”
—Obinani Okoli, Former Acting Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria