SECTOR CAPABILITIES - Yams from Ghana
Yams from Ghana are produced in large quantities and are exported throughout the whole year. Ghana produces on average eight million tons of yam annually. Yam is a leading agricultural export commodity for Ghana. Ghana’s export of the commodity ranks sixth in the world, representing 10.3% of world exports in 2016. The main exportable varieties of the commodity are the following:
- Pona
- Larebako
- Asana
- Dente
- Muchumudu
These varieties are of high quality and taste and are produced largely by small-scale farmers in the rural areas mostly using organic production methods. The sector is well-organized with sufficient infrastructural support such as pack houses, haulage and production inputs. A number of farms are certified while efforts are ongoing by the producer associations in the sector to expand coverage throughout the production areas of the country.
The production of yams has seen a significant jump compared to output two decades ago. In 2018 and 2019, Ghana produced about 7,858,209 and 8,288,198 metric tonnes of yam compared to 3,362,900 metric tones in the year 2000
In the last three years GEPA has provided funding support to the Yam Development Council to produce 250,000 certified seed yams for distribution to initial farmer beneficiaries.
Reasons to buy
Reasons to buy yams from Ghana
Importing Ghanaian yams will give you several great advantages:
- Organic in default – no use of chemicals and pesticides
- Increased number of certified exporters for GlobalGap
- Consistency of supply of large volumes of the commodity
- Certainty of supply of high quality yams all year round
- Very strong sector associations supporting regulations and certification compliance.
- Strong government support through the value chain to ensure quality and competitiveness.
- Unique taste and quality of the “pona” variety most preferred by consumers.
Trade performance
Featured exporters
Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited
Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited is one of the players in the food production and processing industry of Ghana. We are engaged in the production and sale of varied food crops in vegetable, grain, root and tubers categories. Apart from the production and export of some major food crops such as…Show: Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited
SAMBRIMIN ENTERPRISE
Sambrimin Enterprise is an agrobusiness established in 2012. It is a market-oriented enterprise that specializes in trading and export of root and tuber crops especially yam. Sambrimin is committed to providing multiple opportunities for poverty reduction and nourishment of poor people in the sub-region by adopting varied agroecological and production…Show: SAMBRIMIN ENTERPRISE
Ghana Yam Producers and Exporters Association (GYPEA)
With a Vision of becoming the leading source of premium quality yam products with global penetration and contribution to an improved Ghanaian economy and livelihoods,the Ghana Yam Producers and Exporters Association was incorporated under the Ghana Company’s Code, 1963 Act 179 on the 2nd of June 1987. The Association’s objectives…Show: Ghana Yam Producers and Exporters Association (GYPEA)
Useful links
Ghana Root Crops and Tubers Exporters Union (GROCTEU)
GROCTEU is the umbrella professional body of all yam and other root crops exporters associations in Ghana with a vision to make root crops and tubers the leading contributors of foreign exchange in the non-traditional crop sector of the national economy.
The Union is affiliated to FAGE (Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters) and serves on its Executive Council through its constituent associations. In 2004 The Ministry of Trade & Industry appointed GROCTEU to set up and manage in the Port City of Tema, a National Yam Pack House, which is the single corridor for the inspection of all yam sea shipments by the Regulatory Agencies, GROCTEU and Customs.
Ghana Yam Producers & Exporters Association (GYPEA)
The Association’s objectives are to promote the production and exportation of good quality and certified yams from Ghana, and also to assist members to adopt proper methods of presentation of their products to the outside world. The Association also plays an advocacy role in lobbying to influence government policy in the yam industry.