Increasing farmers’ access to conserved yam genetic resources –a case study in Southern Ghana

A study previously conducted revealed that a greater proportion of yams being conserved by farmers on-farm are becoming extinct. Some of these yams are also being conserved at the gene bank. A strategy was formulated to increase farmers’ access to these materials through regeneration, multiplication and distribution to farmers. A total of 89 accessions of yams (D. alata-40 accessions; D. rotundata – 42 accessions and D. esculenta – 7 accessions) were multiplied resulting in 1500 minisetts. The materials were distributed to 30 farmers (25 males and 5 females), in three communities in Southern Ghana to multiply for further distribution. In all, 300 farmers benefitted from the project thus increasing their access to conserved yam germplasm and broadening their genetic stock. Challenges, success factors and lessons learnt were enumerated to guide future studies.