An annual lecture series has been instituted in Anambra state on yam-in-bag cultivation and preservation.
The maiden annual lecture series is being organised by the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, in collaboration with Professor Uchenna Nwosu and Dr. John Ikeorgu National Yam Research Centre Igboukwu, Aguata local government area.
The lecture was centred on the basic and proactive method of yam preservation in Nigeria.
In Igbo land, yam is regarded as the king of all crops, with cultural value and reverence in most communities, unlike other staple foods like cassava, rice and beans.
The main thrust of the event was to encourage cultivation of yam as a staple food through yam-in-bag cultivation, because it challenges the first mantra in yam agriculture that growing yams is a difficult business.
In his presentation, titled ‘Advancing Staple Food Security in Nigeria Through Yam-in-Bag Cultivation”, Professor Uchenna Nwosu said that planting yam-in-bag has several advantages over other traditional process of planting in field mould and ridges, and called for the application of such method by various households.
He disclosed that planting yam-in-bag takes far much less labor, minimal space, requires no formal weeding, reduces disease pressure from soil borne pathogens and pests and is easy to harvest unlike the traditional method, while discouraging the use of fertilizer in yam cultivation.
In another presentation, a guest speaker from the National Root Crops Research, Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Dr. Christian Nwadili who spoke on ‘yam preservation, storage and storage practices in major yam growing areas, encouraged farmers to understand that yam storage is an important aspect of yam production that needs a serious attention.
Dr. Nwadili disclosed that properly stored yam tubers will help to prepare for times of famine, reduce wastes, help during emergencies, serve as protection against inflation, depot for yam planting materials as well as serve as foreign exchange earner.
In their remarks, the National Chairman, Mbidigbo Association and Inter-Agency Committee on Culture and Tourism Development, Chief Ugochukwu Okaforuzu, and the Chairman on the Occasion, Chief Nnamdi Ifeakor stressed the need for cultivation of more staple foods across Igboland.
Earlier in an opening address, the Curator, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization Igboukwu Outstation, Mr. Chukwudi Ezenwa said the intention of the new yam festival backed by the federal government is to find a rallying points for Igbos as obtained in order parts of the nation.
Questions and answer segment on yam-in bag cultivation featured at the event.
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