Yam Cropping System in Cote d’Ivoire: Current Practices and Constraints

  • Amani Michel Kouakou National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Food Crops Research Station (SRCV), Root and Tuber Crops Program, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Guy Fernand Yao National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Central Laboratory for Soils, Waters and Plants (LCSEP), Sustainable Soil Management and Water Control Program, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Konan Evrard Brice Dibi National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Food Crops Research Station (SRCV), Root and Tuber Crops Program, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Adolphe Mahyao National Centre for Agronomic Research, Research Station of Gagnoa, Agrarian Systems and Sustainable Development Program, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Antonio Lopez-Montes International Trade Centre (ITC), Addison House International Trade Fair Center, FAGE, Accra, Ghana
  • Brice Sidoine Essis National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Food Crops Research Station (SRCV), Root and Tuber Crops Program, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Boni N’zue National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Food Crops Research Station (SRCV), Root and Tuber Crops Program, Côte d'Ivoire
  • Brou Kouamé National Centre for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Central Laboratory for Soils, Waters and Plants (LCSEP), Sustainable Soil Management and Water Control Program, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Patrick Olusanmi Adebola International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
  • Asrat Asfaw International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
  • Robert Asiedu International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria
Keywords: Yam, Cropping systems, Land use, Cultivation environment, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Yam is the first food crop in Côte d'Ivoire. It is being cultivated under a traditional technique system with low output. Detailed profiling of the current practices and opportunities for improvement is essential to increase the benefits of yam for food security and income in the country. This study diagnosed the current practices, constraints, and requirements in order to gain insight on the yam cropping system for research and development in Côte d'Ivoire. The surveys were conducted in seven (7) regions in the main yam production area. Groups of 60 producers per region were investigated. Individual surveys were also conducted on-farm, particularly for diagnosing the physical environment and yam-based production systems. As results, yambased production systems are characterized by mixed cropping (cassava, corn and vegetable crops) and/or rotation with various other crops (rice, groundnut, vegetable crops, …). Preferred plots for yam cultivation are forest, savannah or fallow areas. The major constraints in yam cultivation were the effects of environmental stresses, labor scarcity, pest damage, tuber and seed storage difficulties as well as the low market value of yam. The most cultivated yam varieties are Bètè-Bètè and Florido for Dioscorea alata and Lokpa for Dioscorea rotundata. The cropping system, the species and varieties vary according to the region, the topo sequence and the type of soil. Knowledgebuilding that take into account constraints related to yam cultivation, for each production area, can serve as guidance for variety breeding and cultivation environment redefinition.

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Published
2019-10-31
How to Cite
Kouakou, A. M., Yao, G. F., Dibi, K. E. B., Mahyao, A., Lopez-Montes, A., Essis, B. S., N’zue, B., Kouamé, B., Adebola, P. O., Asfaw, A., & Asiedu, R. (2019). Yam Cropping System in Cote d’Ivoire: Current Practices and Constraints. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 15(30), 278. Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/12537