The Cross River State Government has partnered with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to launch a statewide training programme aimed at strengthening yam production through improved seed systems and modern agronomic practices.
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The initiative, structured as a Train-the-Trainer workshop, commenced in Calabar Municipal with participants drawn from the Southern Senatorial District. It targets farmers, agricultural officers, and extension workers, equipping them with technical knowledge that can be cascaded to farming communities across the state.
The two-day session, held from April 20 to 21, combined classroom instruction with hands-on field demonstrations. Participants were trained on land preparation using mini tractors provided by the state government and practical methods such as yam minisett planting. The minisett technique, a key focus of the programme, enables farmers to multiply planting materials by cutting yam tubers into smaller, treated units for propagation.
Facilitators from IITA, working alongside officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, introduced participants to a range of improved practices. These included proper spacing, mulching, weed management, soil fertility optimisation, and post-harvest storage techniques designed to improve both yield and quality. Emphasis was also placed on the use of disease-free and improved seed varieties to ensure sustainable production.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Joseph Odey Ikongha, described the intervention as timely and strategic. “This programme represents a critical step in repositioning our agricultural sector for higher productivity and resilience,” he said, noting that it aligns with the food security agenda of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Adviser on Agriculture, Prof. John Shiyam, outlined the state’s production targets, stating that Cross River aims to increase yam yield from an average of 10 metric tonnes per hectare to 30 metric tonnes per hectare by 2027. He attributed this ambition to the planned adoption of advanced technologies, including tissue culture, semi-autotrophic hydroponics, vine cutting, and minisett multiplication.
“These innovations will reduce the cost of seed yam production and improve farmers’ profitability while ensuring access to certified planting materials,” Shiyam said.
The Chief Trainer from IITA, Dr. Pelemo Olugboyega, noted that the programme is designed not only to improve yields but also to stimulate the emergence of seed entrepreneurs within the state. According to him, rapid multiplication techniques and improved varieties are central to revitalising yam production.
Other stakeholders, including Dr. Nicolas Obun Dan, Chairman of the Technical Implementation Committee, and Mrs. MaryAnn Ogar, Deputy Director of Public-Private and Development Partnerships, urged participants to maximise the opportunity and extend the knowledge to grassroots farmers.
The training will continue in Ikom and Ogoja to cover the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts respectively. It is expected to culminate in the distribution of seed yam packs for multiplication and demonstration, with stakeholders expressing confidence that the programme will strengthen the yam value chain and position Cross River as a leading hub for yam production in Nigeria.
