The Federal Government has announced plans to increase Nigeria’s average yam yield from 10 metric tonnes per hectare to 30 metric tonnes by 2027 in a bid to close a national supply gap of over 50 million metric tonnes.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, made this known on Thursday, during the National Yam Advocacy Summit in Abuja, noting that the initiative is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The summit was organized by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
In his keynote address, Abdullahi said the Ministry’s ‘Ramping Up Programme’ is built on three key pillars: “expanding the total land under yam cultivation, tripling yield per hectare from 10 MT to 30 MT, and reducing post-harvest losses from 40 percent to 25 percent by 2027.”
He said, “By achieving these targets, we aim to close the national demand gap, enhance farmer incomes, and position Nigeria to capture a fair share of the global yam market.
“Although Nigeria produces about 67.2 million metric tonnes of yams annually, accounting for roughly 67 percent of global output, it still falls short of its estimated national demand of 120 million metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of over 50 million metric tonnes.
“Yam occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s economy, culture, and food system. It is not merely a staple food but a symbol of prosperity, rural enterprise, and national resilience.”
He further stressed that following the declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security in 2023, a high-level technical team was set up in March 2025 to develop a comprehensive program titled ‘Ramping Up Staple Crops Production for Renewed Hope Food Security’.
The minister commended IITA for advancing early generation seed production and improved propagation technologies, which he said could raise productivity by 70 and 140%, while reducing disease risks.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to scaling innovations through improved seed systems, mechanisation, farmer training, better access to finance, and adoption of high-yield varieties.
On policy reforms, Abdullahi informed that the former Root and Tuber Expansion Programme has been transformed into the Root and Tuber Industry and Export Development Programme under the Federal Department of Agriculture, giving yams and other root crops a stronger policy focus.
In his remarks, the Deputy Director-General, Partnerships for Delivery and Scaling at IITA, Tahirou Abdoulaye, said the institute is collaborating with the ministry to strengthen the yam value chain.
“IITA is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on several projects to share technical expertise. Specifically on yams, it is expected that the ministry will utilise innovations from years of research on yam seed systems at IITA to improve the yam value chain for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially farmers,” he said.
Despite its dominance, the sector faces challenges, including low yield per hectare, poor-quality seeds, weak supply chains, and high post-harvest losses.
The government’s renewed focus aims to address these gaps and reposition the yam industry as a more productive, profitable, and export-driven sector.
Nigeria remains the world’s largest producer of yams, accounting for about 70 to 76 percent of global supply, with over 65 million tonnes harvested annually. However, most of the produce is consumed locally, with limited exports.
Leave a Reply