IITA, NRCRI Unveils New Yam Variety for Nigerian Farmers

Gilbert Ekugbe

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) have unveiled a new high-yield yam variety for Nigerian farmers in the new farming season.

The launch was made at the 33rd meeting of the National Committee on Naming, Registration, and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock Breed/Fisheries held in Ibadan.

IITA said the new yam variety, UMUDr36-SharpSharp is White Guinea yams (D. rotundata) variety, and pointed out that the new varieties originated from IITA and were released to farmers through NRCRI, Umudike.

According to IITA, the UMUDr36-SharpSharp was released because of its remarkable attributes: early maturity, high yield, high flour production, and good boiling and pounding capabilities.

“In yams, drought stress in the late growing season impacts yield significantly, so introducing early-maturing varieties is expected to help stabilize farmers’ income. The noteworthy point of the new variety is its high potential yield of 33 t/ha, despite its earlier maturity period of 180-210 days compared to the varieties released last year (UMUDr33 and UMUDr34) with a maturity period of 230-270 days in Nigeria.

“As farmers introduce early-maturity varieties, they can expect to implement yam production that is less susceptible to drought stress in the late growing season. The variety possesses some morphological characteristics, such as a green cordate leaf, vigorous and cylindrical tuber, intermediate tuber skin, and creamy white tuber flesh without oxidization. The following nutrients were identified as present in the variety: protein 1.44 per cent, fat 0.29 per cent, crude fiber 2.0 per cent, amylose 31.29 per cent, sugar 4.1 per cent, phytate 1.44 per cent, and CHO 88.2 per cent,” IITA said.