Simeon Shodimu
In a renewed push to transform yam production and strengthen food security, the Cross River State Government has partnered with global research experts to equip farmers with cutting-edge techniques and scalable innovations.
The State Government, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, has launched an intensive “Training of Trainers” programme aimed at redefining yam cultivation through modern agronomic practices and innovative seed production technologies.
The week-long workshop, which began on April 20 and will conclude on April 25, 2026, is taking place in Calabar. It has drawn participants from across the state, including farmers, agricultural officers, and extension workers representing all seven local government areas in the Southern Senatorial District.
Organisers say the initiative is only the first phase of a broader statewide effort, with plans already underway to extend the training to the Northern and Central Senatorial districts, ensuring wider reach and impact.
Declaring the workshop open, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Ikongha, described the programme as a critical intervention designed to reposition yam farming as a viable, high-yield enterprise. He emphasised that equipping frontline agricultural workers with modern skills is essential to boosting productivity and ensuring sustainability.
According to him, the training aligns with the state’s broader goals of enhancing food security and stimulating rural development. Participants were urged to take full advantage of the opportunity and translate the knowledge gained into practical outcomes within their communities.
A key highlight of the initiative is the state’s ambitious production target: increasing yam yields from the current average of 10 metric tonnes per hectare to 30 metric tonnes per hectare by 2027. Achieving this, officials say, will depend largely on the adoption of improved technologies being introduced during the training.
These include advanced propagation and seed multiplication methods such as tissue culture, semi-autotrophic hydroponics (SAH), vine cutting, and the minisetts technique—innovations expected to significantly improve both the quality and quantity of seed yam production.
With the collaboration of IITA and a structured knowledge transfer approach, the state is positioning itself to not only scale up production but also build a more resilient and technology-driven agricultural sector.
