According to a statement issued here by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on Monday in Ibadan in south-western Nigeria, the support is coming amid global re-awakening on the importance of yam as a food security crop in Africa.

"The research project tagged ‘Strengthening Capacity for Yam Research-for-development in Central and Western Africa (SCYReC)' aims to improve the capacity for yam research-for-development in the region," the statement said.

IITA said the project would help in finding sustainable solutions, through science and technology, to the challenges facing the crop and also exploit its tremendous potential for food security and poverty alleviation.

The institute is expected to implement the project in collaboration with a team of national partners in 13 research institutions in the six countries, including Nigeria's National Root Crops Research Institute in Abia State in south-eastern Nigeria.

The statement quoted David Annang, IITA-SCYReC Project Coordinator, as saying : "This is something good for the region where yam plays an important role in nutrition and economic wellbeing of the people."

According to the IITA, in spite of its contribution to food security, yam faces many limitations, including high cost of planting material and of labour, decreasing soil fertility and inadequate yield potential of varieties.

The crop is also faced with increasing levels of field and storage pests and diseases associated with intensification of cultivation.

The five other countries in the programme are Cameroon, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo.

-APA