Yam Breeding in Ghana

Abstract

CSIR-Crops Research Institute of Ghana is the National Centre of Specialization (NCOs) for Root and Tuber Crops and migrating into a Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE) in Root and Tuber research in the West African sub-region. Yam is one of the major root and tuber crops of importance in the sub-region and for that matter the NCOS. Even though yams are indigenous to the West African sub-region, with the exception of Dioscorea alata (Asiatic origin), yams are often aptly described as an orphan crop due to the relatively little research effort compared to its significance in the sub-region in particular and the world at large. Breeding of yams therefore can be a challenge due to little literature available on the subject matter. This paper looks at the historic perspective, what can be done presently and projects into future direction of yam breeding in Ghana and the world at large. It also serves as a guide for yam breeding in particular and root and tuber crops in general.