Assessment of Cultural Practices and Farmers, Knowledge of Causes and Prevention of Storage Losses of White Yams (Dioscorea rotundata) in three Producing Communities of Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey was conducted in three yam producing communities from the three Senatorial Zones of Benue
state, Nigeria, to assess the cultural practices adopted by farmers. Data obtained using a structured
questionnaire and oral interviews were subjected to simple statistical analysis and interpretation. It was
discovered that most farmers use herbicides for land clearing and control of weeds. Majority of farmers
plant yams on heaps. Several local varieties are cultivated but farmers rate some higher than others in
terms of harvest size and prices they attract. Hembakwase, Faketsa and Ogoja varieties top the rating in
Zones A and B while Ojibo, Okpondo and Ogede are highly valued in Zone C. Farmers use mostly NPK
fertilizer (78-84%) but others use Urea (5-20%) or a combination of the two brands (3-6%). Majority of
farmers store harvested yams in grass huts (52 -68%). Fewer farmers store theirs in zinc houses (26-45%)
or in covered heaps under shade (3-6%). Storage losses of between 1 -30% are suffered by farmers.
Farmers attribute such losses to decay caused by heat (36-40%), pests/rodents (6-26%), poor ventilation
(7-12%), cuts/injuries (4-19%) and chemicals/fertilizer application (3-34%). They suggest storage in cool
and airy places, avoidance of injuries, protection from rodents and regular checking as measures to control
such losses.