1.1 Introduction
Yam is a better source of protein and nutritionally superior to other staple root and tuber crops (Otoo & Asiedu, 2009). Yams as a stable food crops do not only serve as integral vehicle for food security, but also as a source of income, and employer of labour in the producing areas in Nigeria. Lack of finance, inadequate farm inputs, storage facilities and high cost of labour are identified as the primary Challenges of Yam Production in the country. Yams are annual root tuber-bearing plants with more than 600 species out of which six are socially and economically important in terms of food, cash and medicine (IITA, 2009). Some of the yam species are water yam, white yam, yellow yam, Chinese yam and three-leaf yams (Ike and Inoni, 2006; Olubukola and Bolarin, 2006; Zaknayiba and Tanko, 2013).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Yams are the second most important tuber crop in the whole world after cassava, in terms of production (11TA, 2013). Average yam consumption per capita per day is highest in Benin (364 kcal), followed by Cote d’lvoire (342 kcal), Ghana (296 kcal) and Nigeria (258 kcal) (11TA, 2009). Yam may be barbecued, roasted, fried in oil, grilled, boiled, baked, smoke, pounded into paste (fufu) or grated and made into a dessert. It may be cooked or fried with rice, beans, plantain, sweet potato, lamb, chicken and butter nut as squash soup (Umar et al., 2016). It can be boiled, roasted and eaten with oil, vegetable or sauce (11TA, 2004; Timothy and Bassey, 2009).
The tubers may be peeled and sliced into tiny pieces and dried to very low moisture contents and milled into yam flour and flakes (Udoh et al., 2005). The tubers may be peeled and prepared into porridge and cooked with traditional spices and served for the sick and aged as appetizer. Yam prices have been increasing in recent years due to strong demand for the crop in Africa and even in Europe and the United State of America where rapidly growing West African migrants’ communities still have big appetite for their traditional preferred staple. Nigeria exported US S27.7 million worth of yam to the United States of America in 2011 (Babatunde, 2012) and it is expected that much foreign exchange through yam trade would be realized in future.
Yam production has gone some dramatic changes in many parts of the world. However, production process from bush clearing, cultivation, chemical application, harvesting and transporting to markets is still labour-intensive (Ennin, Otoo and Tetteh, 2009). Yams do not only serve as the main source of earnings and food consumption, but also as a major employer of labour in Nigeria. Despite the importance of yams to people, the attention to its production is still questionable (Verter and Bečvářová, 2014). Yam tubers are a highly perishable commodity requiring much attention due to pest infestation and physiological deterioration as a result of its high moisture content (50-80%) and high respiration rates (Noamesi, 2008).
According to Anoma & Thamilni (2016), yam tubers like other roots and tuber crops are bulky in nature with high moisture content thereby attracting high transportation cost. Additionally, yam tubers have a short shelf life with limited market margin in developing countries where they are mainly cultivated. Lasisi (2009) asserts that due to the high degree of perishability, bulkiness and distance from production area to the consuming centers as well as the seasonal nature of production, attention should be given to processing of the tubers.
Scholars such as Ehirim et al (2007) researched on the structure of yam marketing in Umuahia, Abia State and found out that yam production in the area especially Dioscorea rotundata did not attract the buyers. There is however a missing link in that work on both production and marketing which are twin concepts in agriculture were not considered together.
Makoto et al, (2011) worked on yam production and marketing among the Nupes of Niger State. They found out that the middleman were mainly exploiters of the farmers as they tend to maximize too much profit on the sale of yam tubers. There is however a missing link here in that in most places especially agrarian communities in Nigeria the middlemen were seen to participate actively with the yam farmers in the sale of yams.
Mohammed (2004) researched on yam marketing in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State and found out that yam farmers did not suffer too much in the process of transportation of yams from Benue State to other states due to the development in transportation system in Nigeria shows that the cost of transportation of food crops usually lead to increase in prices especially bulky crops like yams. Also, Mshelia (2004) worked on wholesale marketing of rice in Adamawa State Nigeria and found out that readily available markets in the environment promotes the business. What is missing here is that the periodicity and organization of markets affect the production and distribution of rice.
Mshelia and Reuben (2011) also studied structural analysis of yam markets in Taraba State, and found out that the structure of yam markets exhibits features of important markets of monopolistic competition; they failed to realize that, yam marketing is mainly rural to urban form of transaction. Also, Migpap and Audu (2012) researched on yam production in Nigeria and found out that, the pattern of marketing has minimal effect on the processes of sales of yams. They failed to consider the periodicity of marketing which plays crucial role in its marketing. Although several researches have been carried out on the production and marketing of food crops at various places and times in Nigeria, yet there are inadequate works conducted specifically on the structure, pattern and problems of yam production and marketing in Benue State with emphasis on the transportation of yams from the farms to the various markets located both within and outside Benue State.
Furthermore, modern farmers in Nigeria and Benue State in particular are interested in knowing possible yam markets where they can sell their yams at reasonable prices. It is also important to identify new trends in the marketing of agricultural products such as direct marketing of agricultural products to the consumers and marketing through cooperative. The consumers would want to know which of the market channels to patronize in order to conserve money and the same time get maximum satisfaction from the goods and services they purchased (Asumugha, Njoku, Okoye and Akinpelu 2009, Oguoma 2010).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Problems and Prospects of Yam Production.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the pattern of yam production in Benue State, Nigeria is characterized by many problems such as: problem of continuous decline in the yield of yams since the past decade. This is characterized by reduction in land area used for planting yams in favour of cassava production. There is continuous decline in yam production in comparison with cassava production in Benue State. The factors responsible for these include low fertility of soil due to overuse of land, pest infection and lack of incentives to the farmers (Shehu et al, 2010).
The consequence of this ugly situation is that yam tubers continue to increase in price and most people cannot afford to eat yams on daily basis as it was practiced in the past decade in Benue State. On the other hand, cassava production and consumption continue to increase in the study area (Shehu et al, 2010). The effect is that, the production and marketing of yams has not been encouraged in the study area. The persistent decline in yam production in Nigeria generally was noticed by FAO (2009), whereby it was stated that yam production decreased by 11.5 per cent over the previous year.
The above missing links such as problems of transportation of yams from the farms to the market, role of middlemen, storage of yams, its processing system and periodicity of market which earlier scholars neglected creates a research gap in agriculture, which we want to fill in the present work on the structure pattern and problems of yam production and marketing in Benue State, Nigeria. Although the study is limited to Benue State, it is believed that the findings will be useful to other states of Nigeria in view of the structural similarities in the production and marketing of foodstuffs.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Problems and Prospects of Yam Production in Benue State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers and the volume of yam production in Benue State;
- To examine the problems and prospects of yam production and marketing in Benue State; and
- To make recommendation based on the research findings for possible policy intervention in the production and marketing of yams.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the problems and prospects of yam production and marketing in Benue State?
- What is the socio-economic characteristics of yam farmers and the volume of yam production in Benue State?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant challenge affecting the production of yam in Nigeria
- H1: There is significant challenge affecting the production of yam in Nigeria
1.7 Significance of Study
The study is important to consider farmers’ needs and preferences in the yam variety development, to improve production, selection to ensure adoption of improved cultivars by farmers and to address the existed problems in an affordable and sustainable way. The most important feature of yam is good adaptability and produce high yields in broad agro ecology (Nora et al., 2006), annual cycle of food availability, diverse maturity and flexibility harvest periods without the use of large amounts of agricultural inputs (Tamiru et al., 2008; Mauricio et al., 2014).
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the problems and prospects of yam production. The study will be conducted in Benue state, Nigeria.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
