admin | May 8, 2025
News Brief
Yam farming in West Africa is driving deforestation, as farmers cut trees to make “yam sticks” that support climbing vines. In Ghana, research scientist Eric Owusu Danquah is promoting pigeon pea shrubs as eco-friendly alternatives. He explains, “The plant continues to sequester carbon,” adding that it also enriches the soil and provides food. But adoption remains slow due to a lack of funding for farmer training. In Jamaica, similar practices are harming forests, prompting local groups to promote live sticks like the bitter damsel tree to ease pressure on natural ecosystems.
Yam is one of the world’s most important root crops, especially in West Africa, where Ghana and Nigeria produce over 80% of the global supply. But traditional yam farming methods are contributing to deforestation.
Yam vines require support to grow, and farmers often cut trees to make “yam sticks”—long wooden poles placed beside each plant. These sticks typically last only two seasons, prompting constant harvesting of young trees. In Ghana, this practice is leading to forest degradation.
Eric Owusu Danquah is a research scientist with Ghana’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. He explains, “The yam is a climber. It has to climb to expose its leaves to the sunlight.” He has spent 15 years researching alternatives to reduce farmers’ dependence on yam sticks.
One promising solution is using pigeon pea shrubs as “living yam sticks.” These bushy plants support yam vines while enriching the soil by fixing nitrogen. Mr. Danquah says, “The plant continues to sequester carbon, and its cuttings provide nutrient-rich mulch.” Pigeon pea also produces edible grains, offering farmers another source of income.
Despite these benefits, adoption has been slow. Mr. Danquah explains, “We need funding to be able to train farmers and get into the yam-growing communities.” He adds, “If we want farmers to adopt good practices that are good for climate change and resilient crop production, they need to be rewarded.”
In Jamaica, similar concerns are growing. Farmers there also rely on saplings from forests to make yam sticks. Donna Lowe, principal of forest science and technical services at the Jamaican Forestry Department, warns, “Over time you are degrading the forest, which will eventually lead to deforestation.”
To address this, local organizations are promoting the use of bitter damsel trees. Arlette Dunkley-Fullerton leads the South East Cockpit Country Local Forest Management Committee. She says the tree is easy to grow and supports biodiversity. “By using live yam sticks, farmers can reduce pressure on the natural forest.”
She adds, “People like to do traditional things. When they see something actually working, that’s when they gravitate to it.”
This story is adapted from an article by Mark Hillsdon for Mongabay. Read the full story here: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/04/farmers-turn-to-living-yam-sticks-to-grow-their-crop-and-spare-the-forest/