Leaf-bud Cuttings: Rapid Yam Multiplication Method

Yam leaf-bud cuttings, rapid quality seed production!

The Leaf-bud Cuttings technology is a vegetative propagation method that allows yam to be multiplied faster and more efficiently. Instead of planting whole tubers or large pieces, farmers use small sections of the yam vine, each containing a leaf and a bud. These cuttings are placed in nursery beds with moist soil and adequate shade, where they grow into mini seed yams. One vine can produce 30–50 cuttings, significantly increasing the multiplication rate compared to traditional methods. This technique reduces pressure on food-grade yam stocks and makes it easier for government programs to provide farmers with clean, certified planting materials at scale. It also helps control virus transmission and reduces dependence on bulky seed tubers, which are costly to store and transport.

This technology is pre-validated.

9•7

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 9/9; level of use 7/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

This group is also curious and follows up to see the outcome of the technology. Most of them have a good understanding of yam production and have practised it using tubers, as in the traditional system. Some have collected vines to try out, and others have followed the entire process at the research station or with partners who are practising. Many are eager to produce on a large scale.

The poor: Positive medium

The primary impact on people in this category is through the provision of labour to those who practice the technology.

Under 18: Positive medium

This group is curious and wants to find out if it is possible to produce yams from vines. They lack extensive farming experience, are eager to learn, but lack the resources to establish seed production units.

Women: Positive high

Where the technology is used, more women than men are usually engaged in preparing the LBCs because they are more patient and careful in handling the vines to avoid damage. Some women's groups have shown a strong interest in starting small-scale production. Training and vines will be provided for them to start this season.

Climate adaptability: Highly adaptable

The technology works well in all regions where yam is cultivated, specifically where temperatures range from 22 to 30 °C and rainfall is between 1,000 and 1,400 mm per year. However, due to the short crop duration, the technology will work with less rainfall. Additionally, it works well in controlled conditions where temperature and water supply are regulated.

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

With seed yam production using LBCs, more seed is produced in a limited area, with potential environmental benefits. The risk of not having seed from a second harvest of a food yam crop due to a shortened rainy season is eliminated.

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

In traditional yam cultivation, trees are cut down to provide stakes for the plants. With the LBC technology, the use of trellis, which significantly reduces the quantity of stakes required, is promoted.

Water use: A bit less water used

The traditional method of seed production is completely rainfed. With the LBCs, although water must be applied during the first two weeks of planting, the crop duration is shorter (4-5 months instead of 7-10 months in traditional systems).

Soil quality: Not yet estimated

When organic mulch, such as fermented rice husk, is used, soil improvement occurs; however, the magnitude of this impact has not been evaluated.

Problem

Farmers are forced to reuse their own seed tubers, which often weigh 200–500g, due to the absence of structured seed systems. This self-reliance leads to the widespread use of low-quality planting materials.
Yam multiplication through traditional methods is very slow, with a ratio of just 1:3, making it hard for farmers to adopt improved varieties and for the country to meet food production targets.
Farmers reserve up to 30% of their food harvest for planting, reducing food availability for households and markets at a time when food security is already under pressure.
Seed quality is not regulated or certified, so farmers frequently plant seeds that are infected with pests or diseases, resulting in losses of up to 40% in the field.
The cost of seed yam remains extremely high (up to 60% of production costs), yet these seeds often fail, discouraging farmers from expanding production or adopting innovations.

Solution

Improve food security and seed independence: By using yam vine cuttings instead of tubers, farmers can save more of their harvest for food—up to 2.5 tons per hectare—reducing hunger and increasing food availability at the national level.
Multiply quality seed faster and cheaper: The new method gives a multiplication ratio of 1:300 (vs. 1:3 with tubers), helping government-led programs scale improved varieties faster and more efficiently.
Lower seed costs for rural communities: With more seed available, the cost per seed drops, giving farmers access to affordable planting materials and encouraging wider adoption.
Improve farmer resilience to climate change: Vine propagation avoids soil-borne pests and diseases, giving farmers healthier crops and reducing crop loss, even in erratic weather.
Support sustainable agriculture policies: Promotes more efficient land and input use, aligns with national strategies for agricultural modernization and food system transformation.

Key points to design your project

Leaf-bud cuttings offer a high-efficiency alternative to traditional yam seed propagation, which is slow, expensive, and prone to disease. This innovative technology enables farmers and seed producers to multiply yam at a rate of 1:300—far surpassing the traditional 1:3 ratio—using yam vine segments rather than bulky, food-grade tubers. This reduces seed costs (up to 60% of production expenses), frees more harvested tubers for consumption or sale, and ensures disease-free plants. The method enhances food security, promotes seed business opportunities, and supports sustainable yam production in the face of climate change.

To integrate this technology into your project, create a list of project activities and prerequisites:

Estimate Seed Requirements: Determine the number of vine cuttings needed, bearing in mind that one hectare of yam can be planted with less than 100 kg of cuttings.
Establish Nursery Infrastructure: Set up basic propagation units (shaded beds or mini greenhouses) with rooting media like soil, sawdust, or cocopeat.
Training and Technical Support: Provide training for extension agents, seed entrepreneurs, or farmers to handle vine cutting, rooting, and field transfer effectively.
Awareness and Demand Creation: Produce radio messages, flyers, videos, and field demonstrations to show the benefits of LBC to farmers and communities.
Partnerships: Collaborate with IITA, extension networks, and private seed producers to scale up and sustain quality yam seed production.

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–	–	–	–
Subhumid				–
Humid				–

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

The technology enhances the production and productivity of yam seeds, leading to increased yam yields and more food.

Goal 5: gender equality

In scaling the technology, women and youths are targeted because they can fit easily into the niche of seed production, which is simple and does not require much capital, especially land.

Source quality planting materials, which are minitubers of less than 10 g (preferably 2-5 g) or plantlets from a reputable breeder, foundation, or certified seed source.
Plant seeds in a suitable substrate in a screen house.
Apply water and nutrients as necessary.
Stake plants individually to ease vine harvest and the preparation of cuttings.
At 10-12 weeks after planting, cut vines from mother plants, leaving 2-3 nodes at the base of the mother plant.
Immerse the cut vine in clean water in a basin.
Prepare a fungicide solution in another basin: 2 g of a broad-spectrum fungicide, such as Mancozeb (80%), in 1 L of water. Mix thoroughly.
Remove the previously cut vine from the water and detangle the vines carefully to avoid damage to leaves and buds.
Make clean cuts through the stem, with each LBC containing one bud, one leaf and a 1 cm stem piece on either side of the node.
Dip the LBCs in the fungicide for 10 minutes. During this process, ensure that basic personal protective measures are observed by using plastic hand gloves and a nose mask.
Remove the cuttings and plant immediately in a moist substrate in containers in the screen house or on beds in the field.
For field planting, prepare beds with a width of 1-1.2 m and a length of your convenience. Apply an organic mulch such as fermented rice husk if available.
Provide adequate shade before planting in the field.
After planting, apply water to ensure that the leaves of the cuttings stay turgid, especially during the first two weeks. With proper care, rooting typically begins about eight days after planting. Continue watering if there is irregular rainfall and if planting is done in a screen house.
Remove the shade from the field crop when plants have produced shoots with 3-5 leaves, about six weeks after planting.
Stake plants at the 5- to 10-leaf stage.
Fertiliser application will depend on the soil fertility status. Generally, NPK 15:15:15 is recommended.
Harvest the crop carefully at 4-5 months after planting or at the time of senescence.
Sort out any diseased tubers.
Treat the healthy tubers in a mixture of fungicide and insecticide and spread them out to dry.
Store the seeds in a cool, well-ventilated place with high relative humidity to reduce dehydration.

Downloads

Rapid propagation of yam using leaf-bud cuttings - A manual Copy_compressed.pdf (PDF, 1.67 MB)
A Breakthrough in Yam Multiplication Using Leaf-bud Cuttings.pdf (PDF, 1.26 MB)
LBC Flyers.pdf (PDF, 1.67 MB)
LBC Presentation.pdf (PDF, 1.51 MB)
PROCEDURES FOR PRODUCING AND USING LEAF-BUD CUTTINGS (LBCs).pdf (PDF, 407.35 KB)

Last updated on 11 June 2025

IITA
Beatrice Aighewi

Commodities

Yam

Sustainable Development Goals Details ›

Subcategory

Seed system

Value chain step

Pre-production

Solution

Seed system

Best used with

Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics for yam multiplication

Tested/adopted in Details ›

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Where it can be used Details ›

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones.

Target groups

Farmers Seed companies Researcher center Cooperatives and Agribusinesses

Leaf-bud Cuttings: Rapid Yam Multiplication Method

Problem

Solution

Key points to design your project