Nigeria Is World’s Largest Yam Producer

                  According to Dr. Morufat Balogun, a geneticist at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria produced 70 per cent of the yam grown annually and globally.

Balogun, who is also a researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), 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 yam were also produced adding that the major production of yam both for import and export largely depended on Nigeria.

She also said that 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.