₦airaland Forum

The West African country of Nigeria is by far the world’s largest producer of yam, accounting for more than two-thirds of global output.



SOURCE
https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/03/01/did-you-know-the-worlds-top-producer-of-yam-is-nigeria/

Yam is the name given to several species of plants grown for their edible tubers and which belong to the genus Dioscorea. They include:

Asiatic yam – Dioscorea esculenta
Chinese yam – Dioscorea batatas
Potato yam – Dioscorea bulbifera
Purple yam – Dioscorea alata
White guinea yam – Dioscorea rotundata
Yellow yam – Dioscorea cayenensis



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/03/01/did-you-know-the-worlds-top-producer-of-yam-is-nigeria/

Coincidentally, in spite of its massive output, Nigeria is not the world’s largest exporter of yam.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/03/01/did-you-know-the-worlds-top-producer-of-yam-is-nigeria/

In the country, Ibos call yam Ji, Hausas call it Doya, while Yorubas call it Ìṣu.


https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/03/01/did-you-know-the-worlds-top-producer-of-yam-is-nigeria/

Within Nigeria, the 3 topmost yam producing states are Taraba, Benue and Oyo – in that order.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/03/01/did-you-know-the-worlds-top-producer-of-yam-is-nigeria/

Discovery of crude oil in Nigeria soil has become a more of curse than a blessing. We are poor managers and scare of critical thinking. We shy away from complex situations to success and progress. We have everything abundantly but suffered for everything mercilessly. We blame everyone for our woe but ourselves. Able People are crying and dieing of hunger on the fertile soil.

muykem:
Discovery of crude oil in Nigeria soil has become a more of curse than a blessing. We are poor managers and scare of critical thinking. We shy away from complex situations to success and progress. We have everything abundantly but suffered for everything mercilessly. We blame everyone for our woe but ourselves. Able People are crying and dieing of hunger on the fertile soil.

Hmm.

NaijaphiliaBlog:
Coincidentally, in spite of its massive output, Nigeria is not the world’s largest exporter of yam.

Yam is one of the most difficult thing you can export

Cross River is a joke to you abi, the yam produced in Ogoja lga lone is bigger than whatever oyo will ever produce.

NaijaphiliaBlog:
Within Nigeria, the 3 topmost yam producing states are Taraba, Benue and Oyo – in that order.



https://naijaphilia.com/blog/2024/03/01/did-you-know-the-worlds-top-producer-of-yam-is-nigeria/

Wish we can produce this to export level

My own concern is the extreme cost of yam, something that should be retailing for ₦10,000 for at least 100 pieces.

Tallesty1:
Yam is one of the most difficult thing you can export

Why is that?

Is it that yam is highly perishable, that it requires processing before export, or some other reason?

DaleMcWayne:
Why is that?

Is it that yam is highly perishable, that it requires processing before export, or some other reason?

It is illegal to export yam.

Tallesty1:
It is illegal to export yam.

You are absolutely right! And it is not only yam.

Nigeria has a law called the "Export Prohibition Act of 1989" that was promulgated by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

The Act says:
“Any person who takes, causes to be taken, induces any other person to take or attempts to take out of Nigeria any of the goods specified in the Schedule to this Act shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for life” .

It then specifically lists items that cannot be exported as:
- Beans
- Cassava tubers
- Maize
- Rice
- Yam
- imported foods.