When it’s time to harvest your bountiful crop, carefully dig at the base of the plant and follow the tubers. Try not to cut them, but if you do, use the ones you nick first. If you have loose, loamy soil, use a garden fork as you would when digging out potatoes.
Where are yam harvested?
Production
| Country | Production (millions of tonnes) |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | 50.1 |
| Ghana | 8.5 |
| Ivory Coast | 7.7 |
| Benin | 3.2 |
When can I harvest my yam?
Yams typically take about 14 weeks to mature. They should be harvested when the tops of plants start to go yellow and wither. Harvesting generally occurs in autumn. Remove yams from the soil.
What is the process of yam?
”The only traditional method for processing yam for storage has been processing into yam flour. This process involves washing, peeling, washing, slicing, parboiling, drying, milling and bagging, but the process has not been scientifically investigated to establish the processing parameters.
Which state in Nigeria has the best yam?
Taraba is the top region by production of yam in Nigeria. As of 2005, production of yam in Taraba was 3,162 1000 metric tons that accounts for 12.89% of Nigeria’s production of yam.
Which country is the largest producer of yam?
Nigeria
Nigeria is by far the world’s largest producer of yams, accounting for over 70–76 percent of the world production. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization report, in 1985, Nigeria produced 18.3 million tonnes of yam from 1.5 million hectares, representing 73.8 percent of total yam production in Africa.
Which part of yams is edible?
tubers
yam, any of several plant species of the genus Dioscorea (family Dioscoreaceae) grown for their edible tubers. Yams are native to warmer regions of both hemispheres, and several species are cultivated as staple food crops in the tropics.
How is yam stored?
Yams actually have a pretty flexible timeline. They can be used up to a month if stored in a cool, dark, dry space. Any other way, be sure to use within 1 week. Cooked, they will last in the refrigerator 3–4 days.
What is the life cycle of yam?
Yam growing cycle
Yam is a perennial plant, although it is treated as an annual one. Growth takes place in three distinct phases, which develop over 12 months and repeat indefinitely during the life of the plant. For this reason, it is said that the yam is a perennial grown as an annual.
Why are yams called sweet potatoes?
In the United States, firm varieties of sweet potatoes were produced before soft varieties. When soft varieties were first grown commercially, there was a need to differentiate between the two. African slaves had already been calling the ‘soft’ sweet potatoes ‘yams’ because they resembled the yams in Africa.
Where are yams originally from?
Yams originated in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Africans call yams “nyami,” which is where we get the word “yam.” They are cylindrical and vary in size. Some of the largest yams have weighed more than 100 pounds and have been several feet long.
Which part of yam is planted?
[Google Scholar]), who noted that when yam tubers are cut and planted, setts from the head portion sprout and emerge earliest, followed by those from the tail portion and lastly setts from the middle, which emerge several weeks after those from the head portion.
Which state in Nigeria is the largest producer of yam?
Benue
Benue is Nigeria’s largest yam producing state and records an average sale of 1.5 million yams a year.
Where is yam cheap in Nigeria?
Yams are cheap in some locations example Taraba, Benue, Niger etc. this is because these states have yam in abundance. And costly in other locations example; Lagos, Port Harcourt, Delta etc.
What can cause a poor harvest of yams?
Aphids spread this virus, so keep them under control. Otherwise, you can lose up to 50 percent of your yam harvest. Another problem is dry rot disease. This disease is caused by a nematode.
Where is the largest yam market located?
Benue State
Given that Benue State has been identified by several food market researchers as the single largest producer of yam in the country, it is logical that the Zaki Biam market in Benue state is the biggest yam market in the world.
Which country eat yam the most?
The top ranked country, Nigeria, accounted for 67.3 % of yam production in the world. The top 3 countries hold a 88.2 % share while the ten largest countries some 96.9 % in 2019.
Which Country Produces the Most Yam?
| Yam Production | Unit |
|---|---|
| Gabon | kt |
| Ghana | kt |
| Guinea | kt |
| Haiti | kt |
Is yam a cash crop?
Yam is one of the most consumed major agric crops in Nigeria and it is also a cash crop in its own right as our country produces it in large quantities and can export it to other countries for huge revenues.
Are yams Nigerian?
Yam is grown widely in Nigeria. The area where it is grown the most is the Gboko town in Benue state. Yam can be served with a variety of soups like Egusi, Ogbono, Vegetable and Okro. In many parts of the country, it is said that “yam is food and food is yam”.
Can yam leaves be eaten?
Yam leaves have a similar texture and flavor to spinach and can be prepared similarly, used raw in salads, finely chopped and mixed into grain bowls, blended into smoothies, or juiced and mixed with fruit juices as a green drink.
What is yam leaves good for?
Some research has shown that yam leaves are more nutritious than spinach, celery, carrots and cucumbers when it comes to vitamin B, iron, zinc, protein, antioxidants, and calcium. They supposedly enhance immune function, boost metabolism, lower blood sugar, improve eyesight, and act as an anti-inflammatory.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.