IITA researchers grows seed yams in the air

Researchers at the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have successfully
grown seed yams in the air using aeroponics
technology.
The development experts said has raised hopes
and more options for the propagation of virus-
and disease-free planting materials, for rapidly
multiplying the much needed clean seed yam
tubers in large quantities.
Aeroponics System is the process of growing
plants in an air or mist environment without the
use of soil or an aggregate medium.
Until now, the technology is a novelty in the
growing of yams as it is only widely used by
commercial potato seed producers in Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, among
others
IITA scientists, led by Dr. Norbert Maroya, Project
Manager for the Yam Improvement for Incomes
and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA)
project, together with a team of scientists
engaged in the research unveiled the
breakthrough. The team has successfully
propagated yam by directly planting vine cuttings
in Aeroponics System (AS) boxes to produce
mini-tubers in the air.
"With this approach we are optimistic that
farmers will begin to have clean seed yams for
better harvest," Dr. Maroya told journalists on the
occasion.