Experts and other key stakeholders in agriculture and food sector have identified African Yam Bean, AYB as a food security crop with numerous benefits and capable of tackling malnutrition in the country.

They made this known at University of Ibadan during the showcase of event on foods from African Yam Beans.

According to Dr Sarafat Tijani of the Peas’n Chips Entrepreneurs Project Stakeholder Networking, AYB provides excellent source of protein, especially for vegans and vegetarians.

He said the crop could prevent diabetics, obesity and cancer because it’s rich in flavonoid and antioxidant that prevents cancer.

Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, Professor Stella Odebode, said AYB has lots of potential in promoting food security in Africa and should be promoted.

She explained that the crop is unique and the development could help to promote food and nutrition security in the country.

Similarly, The Project Research Co-investigator IITA/UI, Dr Morufat Balogun, said AYB is a drought tolerant crop in which the bean and tubers are edible and increases food diversity.

Dr Balogun who is a Geneticist explained that the crop was resilience because it could stand extreme weather conditions while improving soil fertility emphasized that the crop could be used to alleviate malnutrition during food scarcity.

She said the essence of the workshop was to brainstorm on ways the AYB value chains could be explored to maximise its potential.

Also, a Food Processor and Nutrition Specialist in UI, Mrs Abiodun Adesina, said she made different delicacy from the AYB which included moimoi, bean cakes (Akara) and bean porridge (Adalu).

Similarly, a Farmer who planted AYB, Mr Moses Kolawole, said it was a good source of food and income for his family.

Also, another farmer, Mr Idowu Kazeem, said the AYB could mitigate climate change if it’s intercropped with other crops, adding that it improved soil fertility.

Stakeholders who tasted the products made from the AYB confirmed its uniqueness and urged the government and other interested parties to promote the production as well as processing of the crop. 

In a communiqué earlier issued after a stakeholders’ Prioritization Workshop on African Yam Bean held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, IITA, Ibadan, it advocates the development of improved varieties through the creation of AYB breeding programmes in relevant research institutes to speed up its adoption.

The communiqué notes that the challenge of cultivating AYB as an intercrop with yam could be overcome by developing non-climbing varieties while the low awareness and acceptability of AYB compared to other commercial legumes could be tackled by organizing sensitization and promotional programmes for stakeholders in food industries.

It notes that since it is recognized that farmers are disadvantaged in planting AYB because of the absence of improved varieties stressing that the development of a formal seed system for AYB should be considered as a top priority.

The communiqué also identified lack of protection of AYB against pests and diseases  as a potential threat to its production and calls on government to encourage and invest on promoting agronomists and plant health specialists to conduct more research on the crop.

It acknowledges that available technical and indigenous knowledge about AYB is a strength that encourages its adoption as a food security crop, government should establish innovative and versatile extension platforms to promote linkage between research and users.

Ridwan Fasasi

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