This document outlines the work plan for reducing postharvest losses of yams in 2016. The main objectives are to reduce on-farm storage losses, improve postharvest characteristics of varieties, and improve small-scale processing. Various projects are outlined to refine curing protocols, improve storage structures, control sprouting, and evaluate seed storage strategies and losses. Dissemination of results will occur through research briefs, leaflets, manuals, reports, and publications. Partners include organizations from the UK, Ghana, and Nigeria.

1. Reduction of Postharvest Losses
Work Plan for 2016
Annual Progress Review and Work Planning Meeting
Tuesday 16th
February 2016
Ibadan

2. Postharvest (small but important) part of the Seed Systems
component of YIIFSWA
Main project partners
• NRI (UK)
– Debbie Rees, Louise Abayomi (based in Lagos), John Orchard
• CSIR-CRI (Ghana)
– Emmanuel Otoo, Evelyn Adu-Kwarteng, Shadrack Amponsah, Hillary
Mireku Bortey
• NRCRI (Nigeria)
– Hussein Etudaiye, Emmanuel Nwachukwu, (John Ikeorgu), Mrs
Omodamiro, Ms Chukwuma
• UNN (Nigeria)
– Peter Uvere
• FUNAAB (Nigeria)
– Lateef Sanni, Celestina Omohimi

3. YIIFSWA postharvest objectives
• Reduce on-farm tuber storage losses
of existing varieties for tubers used for
seed yam, home consumption, and
marketing.
• Improve post-harvest characteristics
through germplasm assessment and
selection.
• Improving farm/small-scale
processing.
Design and test affordable
improved yam barns
CSIR-CRI
NRCRI
Refine strategies to improve
curing (wound-healing) of
tubers at the start of storage
CSIR-CRI
NRCRI
Evaluate characteristics of
existing store designs NRCRI
Improve tuber sprout control
PhD programme Hussein
Etudaiye (NRCRI)

4. YIIFSWA postharvest objectives
• Reduce on-farm tuber storage losses
of existing varieties for tubers used for
seed yam, home consumption, and
marketing.
• Improve postharvest characteristics
through germplasm assessment and
selection.
• Improving farm/small-scale
processing.
Quantification of characteristics
that affect keeping quality
•Susceptibility to damage
•Length of dormancy
•Efficiency of wound-healing
(CSIR-CRI, NRCRI)

5. YIIFSWA postharvest objectives
• Reduce on-farm tuber storage
losses of existing varieties for
tubers used for seed yam, home
consumption, and marketing.
• Improve post-harvest
characteristics through
germplasm assessment and
selection.
• Improving farm/small-scale
processing.
Improve quality and safety of
processed yam products (Nigeria)
PhD programme Celestina Omohimi
(FUNAAB)

6. Reduce on-farm tuber storage losses of existing
varieties for tubers used for seed yam, home
consumption, and marketing.
Refinement of curing protocols
•On-station fine tuning of curing protocols for yam tubers
(Ghana). Evelyn Adu-Kwarteg (CSIR-CRI) to continue and refine
her previous study.
•On-station demonstration of curing protocol (Nigeria) Mrs
Omodamiro, NRCRI.
•On-farm testing of curing protocols. Evelyn Adu-Kwarteg (CSIR-
CRI)

7. Reduce on-farm tuber storage losses of existing
varieties for tubers used for seed yam, home
consumption, and marketing.
Improvement of on-farm storage structures
•On farm trials to test storage structures. Evelyn Adu-Kwarteng
(CSIR-CRI) to test out ground level affordable designs
•Assessment of existing on-farm storage structures and
improved designs (Nigeria)
Strategies for tuber sprout control
•Hussein Etudaiye PhD on tuber sprout control. Optimise
appropriate treatment method using gibberellic acid and
determine effect on tuber quality

8. Reduce on-farm tuber storage losses of existing
varieties for tubers used for seed yam, home
consumption, and marketing.
Evaluate seed storage strategies and losses: Circulate request for
information to all the seed growers involved in the project on
issues such as storage capacity needed, stores available, losses
observed.

9. Improving farm/small-scale processing.
• The effect of interventions to improve quality and safety of
processed products in terms of heavy metals will be
evaluated

10. Disseminating the information
Research Briefs
•Characteristics of yam stores and their impact on yam keeping qualities
•The use of curing to extend storage and reduce losses for yam tubers
•Strategies for sprout control of yam tubers
•Yam Germplasm postharvest characteristics
•Improving safety of processed yam products
Dissemination leaflets/manuals
•Construction of affordable yam barns for on-farm yam storage.
•Storage of yams during marketing
•Storage of seed yams
•Preventing contamination of processed yam products.
•Practical aspects of curing
Reports
Scientific publications