Yam in West Africa : food, money, and more / Felix I. Nweke.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nweke, Felix I., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Yams--Africa, West.

Yams.

Yam industry--Africa, West.

Yam industry.

West Africa.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 154 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

East Lansing : Michigan State University Press, [2016]

Summary:

Yam in West Africa examines a crop that has been sidelined and ignored for too long while being central to the existence of so many and consumed worldwide. In this book, Felix Nweke attempts to unravel the contradictory nature of the yam crop sector in West Africa by looking at the largest issues in the problematic industry. Yam production is concentrated in West Africa, which is responsible for more than 90 percent of the 50 million tons produced annually around the globe. Though the crop can attract high prices, too often its producers live in penury. Regional issues drive up labor costs of food crops because of dependence on obsolete technology. In addition, certain agronomic practices that are peculiar to yam production remain unchanged, and pests and diseases still ravage the crop. Yam in West Africa investigates solutions to these problems with the aim of expanding yam production, increasing sales, helping farmers, and bringing more of this staple food to those who need it. The future of the yam is bright; this book aims to make it more so.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Yam Primer 1

Chapter 2 Yam Production Contexts in Nigeria and Ghana 9

Chapter 3 High Labor Cost in Yam Production 19

Chapter 4 Yam Seed Technologies 29

Chapter 5 The Challenge of Nematodes in the Yam Food Sector 37

Chapter 6 Yam Crop Improvement Research 45

Chapter 7 Prospects and Impediments to Diffusion of Hybrid Yams in Nigeria 53

Chapter 8 Periphery Situation of Yam in National Food Policy Programs 61

Chapter 9 Yam Stereotype as a Man's Crop 71

Chapter 10 Yam Postharvest Matters 79

Chapter 11 Trade in West African Yam 89

Chapter 12 Fuels of Yam Consumption in West Africa 97

Chapter 13 Yam in the Igbo Cultural Rite of Marriage 107

Chapter 14 Synthesis 115.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 139-150) and index.

ISBN:

9781611861877

161186187X

OCLC:

908990942