On April 21, 2022 in Daloa, researchers from the Jean Lorougnon Guédé University in Daloa will conduct experiments with the cultivation of yam associated with rubber trees in plantations, in Daloa and Yamoussoukro, as part of an agroforestry research project.

“We have finished the field investigations. We will now move on to the practical phase by setting up our experiments with the participation of planters and farmers,” said the project coordinator, Dr. Soumahin Eric Francis, when it was launched on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, in Daloa.

This research aims to set up agroforestry systems that permanently associate undergrowth igam (a variety of yam) with rubber trees, in order to increase national yam production.

According to the project team, it should give convincing results in two years, the popularization of which will contribute to reducing food insecurity linked to the cultivation of rubber trees.

Entitled “Design and evaluation of an innovative Hévéa — Understory yam agroforestry system for food security in the Guinean zone of West Africa”, this project benefits from the collaboration of the National Center for Agricultural Research and the experience of the National Center for Agricultural Research and Development and the experience of the Research Institute for Development (IRD, France) in the area of crop associations.

Its duration is three years.