The Yam improvement for income and food security in West Africa (YIIFSWA-II) project participated from 15th to 16th April 2019 in Abuja at the Seed Connect conference hosted by the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) to promote and showcase the performance of the technologies developed by the project for quality seed production of improved yam varieties.

At the opening of the conference, the Director General of NASC, Dr. Philip Ojo presented the theme of the conference and tradeshow is “enhancing the potential of the Nigerian Seed industry” he stated that “despite the large volumes of seed produced and serving the sub-region, the country is still experiencing a wide gap between supply and actual requirements.”

As one of the few booths exhibiting quality seed/planting materials of improved varieties of a root and tuber crops, the project attracted a large number of participants (international and national) interested in the technologies, the purchase of the seed yams exhibited.

Notable visitors of the YIIFSWA-II booth includes, the honorable Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Artistic Director and CEO of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Comrade Tar Ukoh who was enthused about the value-added products made from yam.