Development of the yam production system in West Africa has been hampered by the inadequate availability of quality seed yam tubers of improved varieties. To address this gap, the second phase of the Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security (YIIFSWA-II) project is intensifying efforts for the establishment of the formal seed system for yam in Nigeria and Ghana.

This year, the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) in Nigeria as well as the Crops Research Institute (CRI) and Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in Ghana, will establish their TIBS for breeder seed production. This follows the successful demonstration and validation by IITA in 2018, of the Business case in use of TIBS for Breeder planting materials production.

For effective and sustainable utilization of the TIBS in the emerging formal seed system, the technical staffs of each NARI were trained from 23 to 27 April 2019 at IITA Ibadan on Breeder planting materials production using TIBS.

Eight participants attended this 5-day training workshop which can be compartmented in three stages: i) generating clean stock of plantlets, ii) scaling up propagation in TIBS iii) Post-flask management of plantlets and iv) Documentation. The participants were taught theoretically and practically on all fundamental aspects of using TIBS, particularly the Plant Form type Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System, for breeder planting materials production.

According to Dr. Morufat Balogun, “This is a major milestone that will lead to achieving the key deliverables of the project. After successfully establishing last year the facilities for foundation seed yam production by private seed companies, YIIFSWA-II is now equipping NARIs with needed infrastructures and technical know-how that will ensure adequate supply of breeder planting materials from which foundation and certified planting materials will be produced.