Yams have been an integral part of Nigerian cuisine, culture, and farming for centuries. However, there is now a strategic push towards realising the full potential of yam crops through value-added processing into shelf-stable flour and other derived products.
Nigeria is already the world’s largest producer of yams, accounting for over 60% of the global output. But post-harvest losses have been high, and the nation has imported other starches like wheat despite its massive yam surpluses. The tide is now turning with greater adoption of technologies and investments to process yams for extended utilisation domestically and in export markets.
This article explores how Nigeria is ramping up production capabilities to unlock the full promise of its prodigious yam harvests and transform the tubers from a subsistence crop into a premium commercial product.
Overview of Yam Farming in Nigeria
Nigeria produces over 60 million metric tonnes of yams annually on over 5 million hectares of land. The crop provides income and nutrition to millions of smallholder farming households in the country.
However, yam productivity per hectare remains low compared to other major yam-producing nations. Average yields are 10–14 tonnes per hectare, versus potentials of 30 tonnes and above.
About 70% of yams are cultivated using minimal mechanisation and small land parcels, typically less than 2 hectares. This underscores the dominance of smallholder farmers, with over 60% producing mainly for domestic consumption. Women make up the majority of yam farmers due to its position as a food security crop.
Despite rising urbanisation, per capita yam consumption in Nigeria remains high at 132 kg/year as it is a cultural staple. However post-harvest losses range from 30 to 60% due to poor storage, transportation, and minimal processing.
The Emergence of Yam Flour and Derived Foods
Yams are highly perishable, lasting just 2–3 weeks after harvest. Waste levels for the tubers have been up to 40%. However processing yams into flour significantly extends their shelf life to months. It also makes yams easier to use in various foods.
In recent years, yam flour has gained prominence in Nigerian cuisine. Amala, a thick dough made from yam flour, is now a popular dish in Southwest Nigeria, challenging the love for pounded yam. Yam flour is also used to make snacks like yam balls and biscuits.
Industrial utilisation of yam flour as a substitute for grains like wheat is rising. Food processors use it as an ingredient for bread, noodles, crackers, and other products. The cosmetics industry even employs yam flour for making creams and soaps.
Export demand for Nigerian yam flour is also growing both regionally and internationally, providing farmers with increased income opportunities.
Key Benefits of Driving Yam to Flour Processing
Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
Converting fresh yams into flour within 48 hours of harvest reduces losses significantly. The flour’s long shelf life enables year-round availability and consumption rather than just post-harvest. Post-harvest loss reduction has major economic impacts for Nigeria.
Enhancing food security
The availability of yam-flour-based foods improves food security. Flour made from yam peels remaining after tuber processing provides livestock feed, enhancing nutrition. Yam flour also gives options to consumers who cannot always find or afford fresh tubers.
Supporting industrial food processing
Consistent quantity and quality of yam flour allow large-scale use by food manufacturers. This supports import substitution through the use of domestic crop output. Smallholder farmers can participate by supplying yam flour rather than just fresh tubers.
Product Diversification
Yam flour allows the preparation of diverse foods like pizza, bread, and cakes, which use wheat flour. This meets evolving consumer demand for variety and convenience. Innovative yam flour products can also be exported.
Gender Empowerment
Yam flour processing is less labour-intensive than producing pounded yam. It also yields a higher income. This empowers women farmers, who dominate yam cultivation. Some starch factories have an all-woman workforce.
Job Creation
Yam flour value addition activities along the entire chain—farming, transporting, processing, packaging, distribution, and retailing—generate significant employment, especially for youth.
Optimising Yam Flour Production
To reap the full potential of yam crops, Nigeria is ramping up efforts on multiple fronts to enhance the output, quality, productivity, and marketability of yam flour.
Improving agronomic practices
Promoting best practices for yam farming raises productivity per hectare. Use of high-quality seed yam, proper staking, fertiliser application, pest control, and mechanisation enhance outcomes. Customised extension services educate farmers.
**Modernising Post-Harvest Management**
Training farmers on proper harvesting and handling reduces bruising and rotting. Investment is promoting appropriate storage in ventilated barns versus pits. Solar-powered cold storage runs pilot-scale currently.
Expanding Processing Infrastructure
Cottage-level mills exist to produce yam flour locally. Larger starch mills with advanced machinery are also rising to process tonnes daily via washing, rasping, sieving, dewatering, and drying yam tubers.
Adopting Efficient Processing Technologies
Technologies like flash dryers and hammer mills facilitate efficient, large-scale yam flour production of premium quality. They increase milling capacity with lower energy consumption.
Waste-to-Value Conversion
Yam peel waste is turned into livestock feed and biogas. Starch wastewater becomes effluent treatment bi-products. Vinegar and pharmaceuticals utilise yam starch extraction by-products. This improves food security, energy access, and industrial growth.
Building distribution networks
Expanding warehousing and transport links from production clusters to urban markets ensures yam flour availability. Cold chain infrastructure also enables distribution without spoilage or contamination.
Scaling up export capabilities
Meeting export market requirements regarding packaging, labelling, quality certification, and phytosanitary standards allows tapping into rising international demand. Export facilitation builds Nigeria’s brand as a global leader.
Fostering Product Innovation
Continued efforts to develop diverse foods using yam flour as an ingredient stimulate consumption. Innovations also include yam starch-based biodegradable products and cosmetics.
Government Programmes to Unlock Yam’s Potential
The Nigerian government is actively promoting programmes, policies, and infrastructure to catalyse a vibrant yam flour and starch sector.
Improved Yam Storage Systems
The Ministry of Agriculture is piloting improved yam storage technologies like barns, silos, and cold rooms to reduce post-harvest losses. These will be made available to farmers at subsidised costs.
Mechanisation Drive
Government schemes facilitate smallholder farmers access to equipment like tillers, planters, and harvesters to enhance yam productivity and quality. Maintenance training is also provided.
Specialised Yam Processing Clusters
The government is developing large-scale starch processing hubs with infrastructure like energy, water, roads, and testing labs. These enable efficient flour and derived food production.
Tax Incentives for Processors
Fiscal incentives like tax holidays and import duty waivers temporarily reduce the costs of setting up processing facilities. This spurs investment in modern starch mills and food factories.
Industry Standards
Clear standards for safety and quality released by agencies like NAFDAC guide processors to meet regulatory compliance. This builds the confidence of consumers, retailers, and exporters.
Expanded Research on Yam
Ongoing R&D at institutes like NRCRI focuses on breeding better yam varieties, enhancing minisett propagation, and developing high-quality value-added products.
Training and certification
Initiatives by agriculture agencies train stakeholders on good practices across the yam value chain. Certification programmes also build capacity in aspects like food safety.
Access to Finance
The government’s SME and agricultural financing schemes offer credit to small processors and farmer cooperatives at reduced interest rates. This enables the adoption of equipment and expansion.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Linkages between farmers, academics, and processors will improve production and processing through collaborative research and data-driven insights.
Export Promotion
Federal agencies actively showcase Nigerian yam products at international fairs, arrange buyer-seller meetings, and provide market intelligence to grow exports.
The Future for Nigeria’s Yam Sector
By leveraging research, technology, infrastructure, and skill development to transition from fresh tubers to value-added products, Nigeria’s yam sector is poised for robust growth.
Improved Smallholder Farmer Livelihoods
Higher productivity and a significant reduction in post-harvest losses will increase farmer incomes. Participation in the emerging yam flour value chain also raises profitability.
Reduced Post-Harvest Losses
With modern storage and rapid flour processing, yam losses can be cut by over 80%. This preserves harvests and avoids waste.
Boosted Employment Opportunities
New value chain activities will create millions of rural and urban jobs, especially for youth. Women stand to benefit greatly from decentralised flour processing.
Expanded Industrial Utilisation
A consistent supply of yam flour supports import substitution as manufacturers utilise it instead of imported starches. New food products will also emerge.
Growing Exports
Yam flour and other derived foods present major export opportunities to West Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia. Nigeria can supply these markets reliably.
Food Security and Availability
Yam flour ensures year-round availability, not just seasonally. By reducing losses and facilitating industrial use, food security improves greatly.
Conclusion
Unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s yams beyond fresh tubers to value-added flour and foods will catalyse agricultural development, food security, and economic growth. With a strategic push to ramp up productivity, processing, innovation, and exports, Yam can anchor rural industrialization and job creation. The journey from subsistence crops to premium global products has begun in earnest.
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