SPECIES OF YAM
Yam refers to all plants of the genus Dioscorea , a name that refers to the Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides. There are over 600 species of Yam. Of these just 12 are edible.
Yams are important food crops and they are a source of carbohydrates and B vitamins , so they are very important in tropical countries such as Nigeria who produce close to 80% of world production.
What are the main species of yam?
These are ;
Dioscorea rotundata (white guinea yam - common in Nigeria),
Dioscorea alata (yellow yam - common in Nigeria)
Dioscorea bulbifera (aerial yam),
Dioscorea esculant (Chinese yam) and
Dioscorea dumetorum (trifoliate yam).
With the export of yams from Nigeria, yam is set to attract a premium price and should attract considerable investments from entrepreneurs seeking to tap the opportunities.
