Yam production in a Bariba village in northern Benin

Abstract

A survey was performed in 16 farms in a village in northern Benin, 12 of which practised tillage using animal traction. In all cases 95% of yam cultivation was based on a particular complex and, within this, four early varieties with two harvest and three late varieties with a single harvest account for the greater proportion of production. Cultural constraints and the solution to the seed yam problem vary according to the varietal factor. Animal traction did not cause a decrease in the importance of yam in farming and cotton growing seems to draw benefit from yam production.