University Of Ibadan's Don Invents Technology To Grow Yam at All Season

A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Dr Morufat Balogun, has invented a new agricultural technology to grow yam seedlings all seasons.
Balogun, a senior lecturer, Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, disclosed this at an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Sunday.

According to her, this newly invented agricultural technology will be put into use by yam farmers by 2016.
She said this would be possible through the production of Dormancy-Controlled Seed Tubers Technology.
The lecturer said the essence of the technology was to control dormancy in growing yams so as to get better quality yam seedlings.

“We want to see how yams can be grown anytime in the year and not necessarily only at the season.
“This technology would yield more income for farmers. “We started the research in November 2014 and it took about two years to perfect it.
“By 2016, the technology will be out; through it, ‘Ready-to- Grow’ tubers can be available and there will be better storability of yam tubers,” she said.

 The expert explained that the technology would ensure increased availability of yam seedlings to all yam farmers to allow them cultivate yams for more than one cycle.
Balogun said that the technology was not genetic modification and had no zero detection of plant-growth regulator.

“We soak the tubers in some substances that are called ‘Growth Regulators’.
“After this, we check whether there is difference in sprouting between the ones soaked and the ones not soaked.
“After checking the tubers at the lab we found out that zero amount of the substance was detected, so it is safe and people should not fear,” she said.

She said she invented the technology in collaboration with Prof. Wayne Curtis of the Pennsylvania State University, under the U.S. National Academies-partnership for Enhanced Engagement in Research.
Balogun, however, said the project was funded by USAID
She said that all stakeholders in yam production and consumption would be adequately trained and informed about this new technology.

“Already we invited the extension workers and enlightened them about the technology they would in turn enlighten the farmers also,” she said.
 

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