The Federal Government, through its Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), on Tuesday, trained and empowered farmers on yam processing and value addition in Oyo State.
This, according to Mr Olawumi Ayodele, Director, Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services, (FDAES) is to ensure food sufficiency and improved income.
Ayodele, represented by Chief Agricultural Officer, Mr Enas Ubi, told participants in Ibadan, that Nigeria, being the largest yam producer in the world still faced challenges in yam production.
He stated that a significant portion of Nigeria’s yam harvest was lost due to inadequate post-harvest processing and lack of innovation.
The director said that adding value to yam products would not only reduce losses but also improve farmers’ income and enhance its overall value.
“This training is not just about learning new recipes but about transforming the challenges into opportunity for economic growth and food security.
“The approach of consuming fresh yam which has been on for long, restricts yam’s potential, therefore value addition through processing is the game changer and must be adopted by Nigerian farmers,” he said.
Ayodele noted that converting raw yams into products like flour and chips would greatly reduce waste and extend shelf life.
He stated that processed yam products command higher prices in local and international markets compared to raw tubers and also make transportation and storage easier.
He urged Nigerian farmers to embrace innovation, noting that the future of the country’s yam farming depends on their ability to adapt and add value.
The director said that FDAES remained committed to supporting farmers by providing technical guidance, to facilitate access to necessary equipment and financing.
“Let us work together to build a robust, value-driven yam sector that will not only feed Nigerians, but also drive the country’s economy forward,” he said.
The FMAFS Coordinator in Oyo State, Mr Adetunji Samson, noted that despite their hard work, Nigerian farmers struggle financially due to limited access to processing technology and innovations.
Samson said the training aimed to equip them with yam processing skills, increase their earnings, reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance food sufficiency in Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate that our yams are being taken to Ghana and accepted when exported to international countries from Ghana but rejected when exported from Nigeria to other international countries,” he said.
Samson called on the participants to make judicious use of the knowledge gained from the training in order to increase their income, reduce losses and ensure food security in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the processing areas touched at the training are best handling practices, diverse processing technologies, packaging and branding and market linkages.
