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  <div class="title"><h1>3.1 - Yam in sacks on terrace walls</h1><br><h3 class="ch-owner">Mitchell van Schepen, University of Guelph, Canada</h3></div>
  <div class="title"><h3>3.1 - Yam in sacks on terrace walls</h3><br><h3 class="ch-owner">Emma Desilets, University of Guelph, Canada</h3></div>
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<p><b>Related video(s)</b>: Yam sac (English subtitles) (Source: Access Agriculture)</p>
<p><i> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMtyPhQHrJQ</i></p>
 
<p>Suggested citation for this chapter.</p>
<p>Desilets,E. (2022) Yam in sacks on terrace walls. In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org</p>
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       <h3 class="title-bg">Background</h3>
       <h1 class="title-bg">Introduction</h1>
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          <p>A staple crop in many parts of Africa and Southeast Asia (Opara, 2003), yams (Dioscorea sp. not to be confused with sweet potato) are an important source of carbohydrates, contain good amounts of fibre and vitamin C (Wanasundera & Ravindran, 1994), and can provide a family with a new source of income and nutrition. Unfortunately, many smallholder farmers in hilly regions lack enough cultivated land area to grow more crops and support their families (Chapagain et al., 2019). To overcome this, farmers utilize terrace farming, which creates step-like patterns on sloping hillsides, where the flat surfaces are cultivated; however the vertical walls are typically unused (Chapagain et al., 2019). For smallholder farmers, every inch of land counts - so taking advantage of these unused walls by vertically growing yam in sacks is an option to consider as shown in Figure 1. Yams can also be grown in sacks on flatlands, to save labour at harvest, fertilizer/manure and conserve water.  </p>
<p>[[Image:YTR.jpg|thumb|centre|Figure 1. Practice of growing yam in sacks  (Ghimire et al., 2016).]]</p>
<P>It is important to note that this practice is not reserved for hillsides, but yams can be grown in sacks against any wall, such as the side of a house or even leaning against one another. Growing yams in sacks not only utilizes unused space and provide yams with adequate sunlight, but it prevents leaching of critical fertilizers and water, and critically the practice also helps cut down on labour especially at harvest time – the bag can simply be opened rather than having to dig out a large and very heavy tuber (Chapagain et al., 2019). The practice appears to have started in Nepal in 2014 (Chapagain et al., 2019), but has now spread to West Africa where some farmers grow up to 5000 yams in sacks.</P>
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      <h1 class="title-bg">Implementation of Yam in Sacks</h1>
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          <p>The world’s 1 billion women and girls participating in subsistence farming pull weeds by hand to improve their crops and also collect firewood for cooking, resulting in their hands becoming rough and sore (Figure 1). This can be caused by wood splinters being lodged into their skin (Schaffner, 2013). Pulling weeds for hours on end can peel away layers of skin (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). The hands of those farmers can also become dirty and smelly from planting seeds in the soil or spreading manure by hand. To avoid the common aforementioned problems as well as hand injuries, such as cuts and scrapes, they could wear gloves on their hands, see the second picture, (Schaffner, 2013). Gloves are very common in the modern world and can be used for construction, farming, and medical practices. Gloves provide a durable layer between the skin on your hands and whatever you are working with (Espasandín-Arias & Goossens, 2014). There are a few different materials used to make gloves, along with different sizes and grips. With over one billion women and girls working on farms around the world, this grueling work can be made safer and more efficient when wearing gloves.</p>
<p>This section will explain how to grow yam in sacks. According to the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO), yams are not typically grown from seeds and are instead grown by planting cut pieces of adult yam (Henderson, 1977).<p>  


          <p>Rubber and cloth are the two main kinds of gloves produced (Melco, 2016). They both have their own benefits and drawbacks respectively. A benefit from rubber gloves is their ability to resist water from coming in contact with a farmer's skin, see part two, (Espasandín-Arias & Goossens, 2014). While cloth gloves can be beneficial because they can draw moisture away from their hands and can be easily washed to be cleaned. Because rubber gloves are usually meant to be disposed of after single use they tend to be cheaper to make and thus cheaper to buy. Yet some rubber gloves can be made thicker to reuse and are slightly more durable (Melco, 2016). Cloth gloves are designed to be washed after being used and last a long time under normal working conditions.</p>
<P><B>How to Plant:</B></P>
<p>While seeds can produce yam, propagation is preferred to maintain high yields and similar traits of the parent tuber. To start, cuttings from the tuber are taken, preferably from the crown, which is the top section containing stems, or with a small whole tuber, weighing 250-400 grams each (Henderson, 1977). A sack or bag to grow the yam in is also needed. Appropriate sacks should be long enough to contain the average fully grown tuber, and a great option would be to use an empty seed sack or an empty fertilizer bag. The sack is filled up halfway, or enough so that it can be lifted, and then transported to rest against a wall or terrace or other bags, where it will remain for the duration. The bag should not contain any large stones, as this will impede the growth of the yam. In addition, the area should be exposed to the sun, as yams are light-loving, shade-sensitive plants which require warm temperatures after planting (Lebot, 2020). The remainder of the sack should then be filled with soil, leaving some space at the top for fertilizer or manure. The soil must be light, sandy, well-drained, and crumbly, as the tuber penetrates the soil while expanding during growth (Lebot, 2020). Subsequently, about five inches (12 cm) of soil near the back of the sack as opposed to the center should be dug to plant the yam. According to a video entitled “How to Plant Yam in Bags” which documented this process, the yam should be placed horizontally, so that the crown is in the centre of the soil, but the cut end of the yam is against the side of the sack. This is done because the growth of the yam will come from the crown; if it were not central, the yam could break through the bag (1/3 TV, 2021). The tuber should then be covered with soil. To protect the yam, dry, dead leaves and grass should be placed over top of the soil.</p>


          <p>Along with the different materials gloves are made of, there are also different arm lengths. Some gloves are cut off just in front or around the wrist. While others can be up to and over the elbow and everywhere in between (Melco, 2016). The benefits of the shorter gloves is comfort, no bunching around wrist or elbow, and they can be quickly put on or removed. The benefits of the long gloves are more protection, the entire forearm will be covered. All the while there is less of a chance of getting debris in their gloves because the opening is farther away from what you are working with. Farmers can also work in deeper water or mud with the long rubber gloves without getting your hands wet.</p>
<P><B>How to Fertilize:</B></P>
<p>The last step to planting the yams is to fertilize the soil. Fertilizing could be the key to healthy yams and a good harvest. One option is to simply scatter compost, manure or fertilizer on top of each bag in addition to the dry leaves. Fertilizing yams in sacks is different than in the ground, as the yam roots cannot travel when confined to the sack. When growing yams in a sack, the roots are planted near the top of the bag. Referencing the above video again, it was found that spreading fertilizer over top of the soil, or at the bottom of the bag, is an ineffective method. The concentration of the fertilizer is simply too strong if directly applied, which is why it is suggested to fertilize in batches (1/3 TV, 2021). Five to six weeks after planting, only seven or eight balls of fertilizer should be scatter on top of the dry leaves. Rain should dissolve the fertilize, or the sacks can be watered at least three times a week. This fertilizing process should be repeated weekly, for 1 month (1/3 TV, 2021).</p>


          <p>When working with smooth items such as hoes and some fruits and vegetables they can be slippery (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). A way to help farmer's hold on to the tools is to get gloves with grips (Melco, 2016). Both rubber and cloth gloves can have grips. Rubber gloves will have ridges in the molds to form grips and granular materials can be added to the outside before drying (Melco, 2016). Another option is to make the rubber gloves out of a non-slip rubber (Melco, 2016). Because cloth alone does not provide grip, cloth gloves must be dipped in liquid rubber to be able to grip smooth objects. The rubber used for grips on cloth gloves can either be non-slip smooth rubber or be rigid (Melco, 2016). </p>
<P><B>How to Harvest:</B></P>
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<p>Mature yams are distinguishable by the yellowing of leaves, and most edible yams reach maturity in 8-11 months after planting (Opara, 2003). To harvest, the sacks should be torn down the side. A shovel can be used to remove some of the soil but then the actual yam should be dug by  hand as it is possible to damage the tuber. The stem of the yam should then be cut and removed. It is possible to recycle the sacks by lying them on their sides and emptying the contents. The soil can be reused again. The yams should be stored in a cool, dark area until ready for use. It is important to note that yams contain toxic substances when raw and must be sliced and soaked in water or cooked before consumption (Opara, 2003). </p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Critical Analysis </h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Physical Protection</h3>
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          <p>Protection is the main benefit from using gloves. Repetitive motions, such as when pounding grain, can cause irritation to the skin. When collecting firewood the sticks and logs can scratch or cut the skin (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). Weeds can be rough and by scratching their hands many times they can become cut and sore (Espasandín-Arias & Goossens, 2014). By lifting and pulling heavy items the top layer of your skin will separate from the next, causing a blister, by wearing gloves they now will prevent blistering because the glove will act as the top layer of skin and prevent the actual skin from separating (Schaffner, 2013). Manure has a lot of bacteria in it which are harmful if they are swallow, so keeping them away from the hands used to eat with is very beneficial (Furlong, et al., 2015). If farmers are working with firewood or in construction the cloth gloves will work better because they are more durable (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). The disposable rubber gloves would be the worst to use in this scenario because they are so thin, stick to jobs were the main goals are to keep hands dry and dirt free when using disposable rubber gloves.</p>
<p>While harvesting yams in sacks requires much less labour than harvesting on land, planting is slightly more difficult and requires more resources. Growing yams is typically a highly laborious and tiresome process. Yams grown in the ground require standing, bending, and squatting for long amounts of time, which is very intensive considering some yams can grow to weigh larger than 100 lbs  or 45 kg (Opara, 2003). Planting in sacks cuts down on intensive labour, but it is more time-consuming as each individual sack must be prepared. As each tuber requires one sack, many sacks and pieces of the tuber will need to be acquired. A farmer may already have some empty sacks or fertilizer bags, or they can be acquired at the market, but accessing these materials may also be difficult. Acquiring sacks large enough to accommodate the size of the growing yam may also be difficult, as smaller bags will limit the size of the tuber. In addition, the disposal of the unusable sacks will create plastic waste, so consideration should be given to biodegradable bags. If materials needed to grow yam in sacks are accessible, some benefits are that it cuts down on hard labour, especially at harvest time, utilizes unused space, and mitigates weeds, soil fertility decline via reduced leaching, soilborne and leaf pests and diseases -- all of which comprise the highest constraints to yam production (Wanasundera & Ravindran, 1994). It also permits yams to be grown in regions with otherwise heavier (clay soil). Another aspect to consider when growing yams is their storage ability. Storage losses can be detrimental, as a yam can lose 10-20 percent of its weight after three months of regular storage in a cool, dry area. These figures include an element of moisture loss, and a decrease in the food value of the yam tubers also occurs (Coursey, 1967). Yams cannot be stored in cold storage, as they will suffer chilling damage, and yams are susceptible to insects and plant pathogens (Coursey, 1967). There are also added costs for materials, purchasing yam tubers, sacks, and fertilizer, but these items may already be common-place, or easy to acquire from the market. The range cost of yams per plant is $2 USD. This added source of income can make a dramatic difference to a smallholder farm if this technique is successfully adapted. </p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Picture Based Lesson to Train Farmers</h1>
       <h3 style="background: #FBB03B;padding: 15px;font-weight: 600;color: #000;font-size: 22px;margin:unset;text-align:center;">Defense Against Moisture and Chemicals</h3>
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          <p>Moisture blocking is a way gloves can prevent your skin from drying out and from getting too wet and dehydrating farmer's hands. By keeping the moisture from the hands inside the gloves they will prevent the skin from cracking and becoming infected (Schaffner, 2013). As well when working in wet conditions your hands can shrivel and become dehydrated if they are constantly in contact with water.</p>
          <p>Pesticides can be absorbed by your skin and become harmful to the body, gloves provide an extra barrier to block them from entering in a farmer's body (Furlong, et al., 2015). Fertilizers such as nitrogen can also be caustic, and these are usually spread through broadcasting by hand. Mud can get under your nails and into cracked or cut skin and can infect a farmer's hands. Gloves will keep the mud out and keep hands clean. Both liquid pesticides and dry fertilizers can irritate skin if they come into contact with it (Kim, et al., 2013). Wearing the proper gloves, rubber ones in this case, can save their hands from becoming itchy (Keeble et al., 1996). Human skin can also absorb the pesticides which are harmful to your body, wearing gloves would prevent the pesticides from ever touching your skin.</p>
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      <h3 class="title-bg">Wearable</h3>
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          <p>Comfortable gloves help farmer's work longer because their hands will not hurt from completing your task. Sizing is very important when finding comfortable gloves (Melco, 2016). Make sure gloves are the proper length and width, as not to restrict movement. There will be less pain from pulling weeds and they will be able to pull more weeds because they would not have to wait a long for the pain to subside between pulling each weed, because there will be no pain if wearing gloves (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2016). If farmer's find they are working hard and their hands start to sweat the gloves should be removed , dry your hands, and put on a new pair. Cloth gloves are more breathable then rubber ones, using them is another way to prevent hands from getting sweaty. The cloth gloves can also be softer and easier to clean, but are more restricting to movement due to their durability and tougher material. Since children will also be farming, smaller glove sizes can be found. Gloves are designed to fit a farmer's hand snugly, so children should not wear adult sized gloves when working. </p>
[[Image:4.1 page-0001.jpg|thumb|centre|Picture Based Lesson to Train Farmer|Click on the image to access a higher resolution image as well as lessons adapted for different geographic regions.]]</p>
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<p>Sub-Saharan, Africa/Caribbean version: http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1subsaharan_africa_carribean.pdf</p>
<p>South Asian version:
http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1_south_asian.pdf</p> 
<p>East/Southeast Asian version:
http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1e.s.a.pdf</p> 
<p>Latin American version:
http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1latin_america.p</p> df
<p><b>Source: </b></p>
<p>MN Raizada and L Smith (2016) A Picture Book of Best Practices for Subsistence Farmers:  Edition (note geographic region). eBook, University of Guelph Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) Project, June 2016, Guelph, Canada. Available online at: www.SAKBooks.com</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Links to Useful Resources</h1>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Constraints To Adoption</h3>
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<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV_D99fow4M
          <p>Gloves are very useful to farmers, but there can still be some drawbacks. Possible culturable taboos might vary from location to location. Gloves might seem feminine and not easily adopted by men in the community. Gloves act as a second, tougher skin, but they are not a farmer's skin and can slide around while working. This may feel odd and uncomfortable but farmers can get used to the new feeling over time. Gloves can come in many colours and thicknesses, which may make a farmer's hands look funny or larger. Human skin is very stretchy and flexible, while glove materials tend to be tougher than skin and will reduce movement, but not enough to hinder work. Rubber gloves can stretch well, but make hands sweat, while cloth gloves are breathable but reduce dexterity.</p>
- Step by step process on planting yam in sacks</p>
          <p>Farmers can find gloves to use and get started from local vendors (European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease, 2016). Once you have completed your work for the day you can clean them are reuse them, or dispose of them if they were ripped or torn (Kim, et al., 2013). You can get gloves made of rubber and like materials as well as ones made of durable cloths. The thin rubber gloves tend to be made for a single use only. A trick that the European Commission For The Control Foot-And-Mouth Disease mentions that you can wear two pairs of rubber gloves at the same time for extra protection (European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease, 2016).</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPJ-LBuVCzY&t=1431s
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- Harvesting yam in sacks</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbG3GmavCU
- Benefits to planting yam in sacks</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtpdL8KFJo
- Alternate video showing the process of planting yam in sacks</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m95fQ6rCOs
- Growing yam in sacks in Nigeria</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHzV2DI0EEg
- Commercial yam farming</p>
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       <h3 class="title-bg">Helpful Links To Get Started </h3>
       <h1 class="title-bg">References</h1>
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          <p>Here are websites to find more information about how to obtain gloves:</p>
          <p>[https://www.alibaba.com/ Alibaba]</p>
          <p>[https://www.indiamart.com/ Indiamart]</p>
          <p>[http://www.store.nzfarmsource.co.nz/ Store Nzfarmsource]</p>
          <p>[https://www.adenna.com Adenna]</p>
          <p>[https://www.farmcity.co.za/ Farmcity]</p>
          <p>[https://www.crazystore.co.za/ Crazystore]</p>
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      <h3 class="title-bg">Usefull Images</h3>
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          <p>1. Chapagain, T., & Raizada, M. N. (2017). Agronomic Challenges and Opportunities for Smallholder Terrace Agriculture in Developing Countries. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 331. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00331</p>
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<p>2. Chapagain, T., Ghimire, B., Pudasaini, R., Gurung, K., Choi, K., Rai, L., Magar, S., Bishnu, B. K., & Raizada, M. N. (2019). The Underutilized Terrace Wall can be Intensified to Improve Farmer Livelihoods. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 39(3), 2–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-019-0574-2 </p>
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<p>3. Coursey, D. G. (1967). Yam Storage—I: A Review of Yam Storage Practices and of Information on Storage Losses. Journal of Stored Products Research, 2(3), 229–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-474x(67)90070-7 </p>
                  <div class="fakeimg fakeimg-use">[[File:1.jpg]]</div>
<p>4. Henderson, A. (1977). How to Propagate Yams. In Roots and Tubers (pp. 30–38). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.</p>
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<p>5. Ghimire, B., Dhakal, R., Pudasaini, R., Devkota, R., & Chaudhary, P. (2016). Demonstration of yam cultivation in sacks at Laitak village [Photograph]. Leisa India. https://leisaindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Demonstration-of-yam-cultivation-in-sacks-at-Laitak-village-300x169.jpg </p>
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<p>6. Lebot, V. (2020). Yams: Agronomy. In Lebot, V, Tropical Root and Tuber Crops: Cassava, Sweet Potato, Yams and Aroids, (pp. 273–292). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781789243369.0273 </p>
<p>7. Opara, L. U. (2003). Yams - Food and Agriculture Organization. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/inpho/docs/Post_Harvest_Compendium_-_Yams.pdf</p>  
<p>8. 1/3 TV. (2021, May 17). Step by Step Process How to Plant Yam in Bags [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV_D99fow4M</p>
<p>9. Wanasundera, J. P., & Ravindran, G. (1994). Nutritional Assessment of Yam (Dioscorea alata) Tubers. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 46(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01088459</p>


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      <h3 class="title-bg">References</h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">
          <p>Espasandín-Arias, M., & Goossens, A. (2014). Natural rubber gloves might not protect against skin penetration of methylisothiazolinone. Contact Dermatitis, 70(4), 249-251. doi:10.1111/cod.12221</p>
          <p>European Commission For The Control Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease. Suggested FMD PPE guidelines - Food and Agriculture, (2016)
          Food and Agriculture Organization. Rural women in household production: Increasing contributions and persisting drudgery. (2016).
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          <p>Furlong, M., Tanner, C. M., Goldman, S. M., Bhudhikanok, G. S., Blair, A., Chade, A., . . . Kamel, F. (2015). Protective glove use and hygiene habits modify the associations of specific pesticides with Parkinson's disease. Environment International, 75, 144-150. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2014.11.002</p>
          <p>Keeble, V. B., Correll, L., & Ehrich, M. (1996). Effect of Laundering on Ability of Glove Fabrics to Decrease the Penetration of Organophosphate Insecticides Through in vitro Epidermal Systems. J. Appl. Toxicol. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 16(5), 401-406. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1263(199609)16:53.3.co;2-6</p>
          <p>Kim, J., Kim, J., Cha, E., Ko, Y., Kim, D., & Lee, W. (2013). Work-Related Risk Factors by Severity for Acute Pesticide Poisoning Among Male Farmers in South Korea. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10(3), 1100-1112. doi:10.3390/ijerph10031100</p>
          <p>Melco, M. (2016). Gardening Gloves. Retrieved from [http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Gardening_Gloves Garden Lovetoknow]</p>
          <p>Schaffner, A. D. (2013). Minimizing Surgical Skin Incision Scars with a Latex Surgical Glove. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 37(2), 463-463. doi:10.1007/s00266-013-0071-y</p>
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Latest revision as of 11:06, 15 January 2026

3.1 - Yam in sacks on terrace walls


Emma Desilets, University of Guelph, Canada

3.1 image.jpeg

Related video(s): Yam sac (English subtitles) (Source: Access Agriculture)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMtyPhQHrJQ

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Desilets,E. (2022) Yam in sacks on terrace walls. In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org

Introduction

A staple crop in many parts of Africa and Southeast Asia (Opara, 2003), yams (Dioscorea sp. not to be confused with sweet potato) are an important source of carbohydrates, contain good amounts of fibre and vitamin C (Wanasundera & Ravindran, 1994), and can provide a family with a new source of income and nutrition. Unfortunately, many smallholder farmers in hilly regions lack enough cultivated land area to grow more crops and support their families (Chapagain et al., 2019). To overcome this, farmers utilize terrace farming, which creates step-like patterns on sloping hillsides, where the flat surfaces are cultivated; however the vertical walls are typically unused (Chapagain et al., 2019). For smallholder farmers, every inch of land counts - so taking advantage of these unused walls by vertically growing yam in sacks is an option to consider as shown in Figure 1. Yams can also be grown in sacks on flatlands, to save labour at harvest, fertilizer/manure and conserve water.

Figure 1. Practice of growing yam in sacks (Ghimire et al., 2016).

It is important to note that this practice is not reserved for hillsides, but yams can be grown in sacks against any wall, such as the side of a house or even leaning against one another. Growing yams in sacks not only utilizes unused space and provide yams with adequate sunlight, but it prevents leaching of critical fertilizers and water, and critically the practice also helps cut down on labour especially at harvest time – the bag can simply be opened rather than having to dig out a large and very heavy tuber (Chapagain et al., 2019). The practice appears to have started in Nepal in 2014 (Chapagain et al., 2019), but has now spread to West Africa where some farmers grow up to 5000 yams in sacks.

Implementation of Yam in Sacks

This section will explain how to grow yam in sacks. According to the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO), yams are not typically grown from seeds and are instead grown by planting cut pieces of adult yam (Henderson, 1977).

How to Plant:

While seeds can produce yam, propagation is preferred to maintain high yields and similar traits of the parent tuber. To start, cuttings from the tuber are taken, preferably from the crown, which is the top section containing stems, or with a small whole tuber, weighing 250-400 grams each (Henderson, 1977). A sack or bag to grow the yam in is also needed. Appropriate sacks should be long enough to contain the average fully grown tuber, and a great option would be to use an empty seed sack or an empty fertilizer bag. The sack is filled up halfway, or enough so that it can be lifted, and then transported to rest against a wall or terrace or other bags, where it will remain for the duration. The bag should not contain any large stones, as this will impede the growth of the yam. In addition, the area should be exposed to the sun, as yams are light-loving, shade-sensitive plants which require warm temperatures after planting (Lebot, 2020). The remainder of the sack should then be filled with soil, leaving some space at the top for fertilizer or manure. The soil must be light, sandy, well-drained, and crumbly, as the tuber penetrates the soil while expanding during growth (Lebot, 2020). Subsequently, about five inches (12 cm) of soil near the back of the sack as opposed to the center should be dug to plant the yam. According to a video entitled “How to Plant Yam in Bags” which documented this process, the yam should be placed horizontally, so that the crown is in the centre of the soil, but the cut end of the yam is against the side of the sack. This is done because the growth of the yam will come from the crown; if it were not central, the yam could break through the bag (1/3 TV, 2021). The tuber should then be covered with soil. To protect the yam, dry, dead leaves and grass should be placed over top of the soil.

How to Fertilize:

The last step to planting the yams is to fertilize the soil. Fertilizing could be the key to healthy yams and a good harvest. One option is to simply scatter compost, manure or fertilizer on top of each bag in addition to the dry leaves. Fertilizing yams in sacks is different than in the ground, as the yam roots cannot travel when confined to the sack. When growing yams in a sack, the roots are planted near the top of the bag. Referencing the above video again, it was found that spreading fertilizer over top of the soil, or at the bottom of the bag, is an ineffective method. The concentration of the fertilizer is simply too strong if directly applied, which is why it is suggested to fertilize in batches (1/3 TV, 2021). Five to six weeks after planting, only seven or eight balls of fertilizer should be scatter on top of the dry leaves. Rain should dissolve the fertilize, or the sacks can be watered at least three times a week. This fertilizing process should be repeated weekly, for 1 month (1/3 TV, 2021).

How to Harvest:

Mature yams are distinguishable by the yellowing of leaves, and most edible yams reach maturity in 8-11 months after planting (Opara, 2003). To harvest, the sacks should be torn down the side. A shovel can be used to remove some of the soil but then the actual yam should be dug by hand as it is possible to damage the tuber. The stem of the yam should then be cut and removed. It is possible to recycle the sacks by lying them on their sides and emptying the contents. The soil can be reused again. The yams should be stored in a cool, dark area until ready for use. It is important to note that yams contain toxic substances when raw and must be sliced and soaked in water or cooked before consumption (Opara, 2003).

Critical Analysis

While harvesting yams in sacks requires much less labour than harvesting on land, planting is slightly more difficult and requires more resources. Growing yams is typically a highly laborious and tiresome process. Yams grown in the ground require standing, bending, and squatting for long amounts of time, which is very intensive considering some yams can grow to weigh larger than 100 lbs or 45 kg (Opara, 2003). Planting in sacks cuts down on intensive labour, but it is more time-consuming as each individual sack must be prepared. As each tuber requires one sack, many sacks and pieces of the tuber will need to be acquired. A farmer may already have some empty sacks or fertilizer bags, or they can be acquired at the market, but accessing these materials may also be difficult. Acquiring sacks large enough to accommodate the size of the growing yam may also be difficult, as smaller bags will limit the size of the tuber. In addition, the disposal of the unusable sacks will create plastic waste, so consideration should be given to biodegradable bags. If materials needed to grow yam in sacks are accessible, some benefits are that it cuts down on hard labour, especially at harvest time, utilizes unused space, and mitigates weeds, soil fertility decline via reduced leaching, soilborne and leaf pests and diseases -- all of which comprise the highest constraints to yam production (Wanasundera & Ravindran, 1994). It also permits yams to be grown in regions with otherwise heavier (clay soil). Another aspect to consider when growing yams is their storage ability. Storage losses can be detrimental, as a yam can lose 10-20 percent of its weight after three months of regular storage in a cool, dry area. These figures include an element of moisture loss, and a decrease in the food value of the yam tubers also occurs (Coursey, 1967). Yams cannot be stored in cold storage, as they will suffer chilling damage, and yams are susceptible to insects and plant pathogens (Coursey, 1967). There are also added costs for materials, purchasing yam tubers, sacks, and fertilizer, but these items may already be common-place, or easy to acquire from the market. The range cost of yams per plant is $2 USD. This added source of income can make a dramatic difference to a smallholder farm if this technique is successfully adapted.

Picture Based Lesson to Train Farmers

Click on the image to access a higher resolution image as well as lessons adapted for different geographic regions.

Sub-Saharan, Africa/Caribbean version: http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1subsaharan_africa_carribean.pdf

South Asian version: http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1_south_asian.pdf

East/Southeast Asian version: http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1e.s.a.pdf

Latin American version: http://www.sakbooks.com/uploads/8/1/5/7/81574912/4.1latin_america.p

df

Source:

MN Raizada and L Smith (2016) A Picture Book of Best Practices for Subsistence Farmers: Edition (note geographic region). eBook, University of Guelph Sustainable Agriculture Kit (SAK) Project, June 2016, Guelph, Canada. Available online at: www.SAKBooks.com

Links to Useful Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV_D99fow4M - Step by step process on planting yam in sacks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPJ-LBuVCzY&t=1431s - Harvesting yam in sacks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTbG3GmavCU - Benefits to planting yam in sacks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtpdL8KFJo - Alternate video showing the process of planting yam in sacks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m95fQ6rCOs - Growing yam in sacks in Nigeria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHzV2DI0EEg - Commercial yam farming

References

1. Chapagain, T., & Raizada, M. N. (2017). Agronomic Challenges and Opportunities for Smallholder Terrace Agriculture in Developing Countries. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 331. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00331

2. Chapagain, T., Ghimire, B., Pudasaini, R., Gurung, K., Choi, K., Rai, L., Magar, S., Bishnu, B. K., & Raizada, M. N. (2019). The Underutilized Terrace Wall can be Intensified to Improve Farmer Livelihoods. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 39(3), 2–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-019-0574-2

3. Coursey, D. G. (1967). Yam Storage—I: A Review of Yam Storage Practices and of Information on Storage Losses. Journal of Stored Products Research, 2(3), 229–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-474x(67)90070-7

4. Henderson, A. (1977). How to Propagate Yams. In Roots and Tubers (pp. 30–38). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

5. Ghimire, B., Dhakal, R., Pudasaini, R., Devkota, R., & Chaudhary, P. (2016). Demonstration of yam cultivation in sacks at Laitak village [Photograph]. Leisa India. https://leisaindia.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Demonstration-of-yam-cultivation-in-sacks-at-Laitak-village-300x169.jpg

6. Lebot, V. (2020). Yams: Agronomy. In Lebot, V, Tropical Root and Tuber Crops: Cassava, Sweet Potato, Yams and Aroids, (pp. 273–292). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781789243369.0273

7. Opara, L. U. (2003). Yams - Food and Agriculture Organization. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/inpho/docs/Post_Harvest_Compendium_-_Yams.pdf

8. 1/3 TV. (2021, May 17). Step by Step Process How to Plant Yam in Bags [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV_D99fow4M

9. Wanasundera, J. P., & Ravindran, G. (1994). Nutritional Assessment of Yam (Dioscorea alata) Tubers. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 46(1), 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf01088459

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