FG, by 2027, plans to triple yam output
File photo: Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi
The Federal Government has made open it’s plans to increase Nigeria’s average yam yield from 10 metric tonnes per hectare to 30 metric tonnes per hectare by 2027 in a bid to close a national supply gap of over 50 million metric tonnes.
While speaking at the National Yam Advocacy Summit in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The summit was organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Delivering his keynote address, Abdullahi said the ministry’s “Ramping Up Programme” is built on three key pillars: expanding the total land under yam cultivation, tripling yield per hectare from 10MT to 30MT, and reducing post-harvest losses from 40 per cent to 25 per cent by 2027.
“By achieving these targets, we aim to close the national demand gap, enhance farmer incomes, and position Nigeria to capture a fair share of the global yam market,” he said.
According to him, although Nigeria produces about 67.2 million metric tonnes of yams annually — accounting for roughly 67 per cent of global output — it still falls short of its estimated national demand of 120 million metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of over 50 million metric tonnes.
Abdullahi described yam as central to Nigeria’s food system and rural economy.
“Yam occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s economy, culture, and food system. It is not merely a staple but a symbol of prosperity, rural enterprise, and national resilience,” he stated.
He explained that following the declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security in 2023, a high-level technical team was set up in March 2025 to develop a comprehensive programme titled “Ramping Up Staple Crops Production for Renewed Hope Food Security.”
The minister commended IITA for advancing Early Generation Seed production and improved propagation technologies, which he said could raise productivity by between 70 and 140 per cent while reducing disease risks.
On policy reforms, Abdullahi announced that the former Root and Tuber Expansion Programme has been transformed into the Root and Tuber Industry and Export Development Programme under the Federal Department of Agriculture, giving yams and other root crops a stronger policy focus.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to scaling innovations through improved seed systems, mechanisation, farmer training, better access to finance, and the adoption of high-yield varieties.
In his remarks, the Deputy Director-General, Partnerships for Delivery and Scaling at IITA, Tahirou Abdoulaye, said the institute is collaborating with the ministry to strengthen the yam value chain.
“IITA is collaborating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on several projects to share technical expertise. Specifically on yams, it is expected that the ministry will utilise innovations from years of research on yam seed systems at IITA to improve the yam value chain for the benefit of all stakeholders, especially farmers,” he said.
Nigeria remains the world’s largest producer of yams, accounting for about 70 to 76 per cent of global supply, with over 65 million tonnes harvested annually. However, most of the produce is consumed locally, with limited exports.
Despite its dominance, the sector faces challenges including low yield per hectare, poor-quality seeds, weak supply chains, and high post-harvest losses. The government’s renewed focus aims to address these gaps and reposition the yam industry as a more productive, profitable, and export-driven sector.
