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HARNESSING THE MUMUYE YAM: A Call for Taraba’s Agricultural Breakthrough

By: Kamal Hammajo Adam 

Freelance Journalist | +2347069274878]

The Mumuye people, one of Taraba’s largest ethnic group, are not only custodians of a rich cultural heritage but also the producers of one of the North’s most valuable agricultural products: the Mumuye Yam also known in some places as Jalingo Yam. From the fertile farmlands of Zing, Yorro, Lau, Ardo-Koka and Jalingo to the bustling markets of Kano and Sokoto, and even Abuja, this yam is renowned for its size, taste, and long shelf life. In some Northern markets, a tuber of premium Mumuye Yam can sell for up to 30% more than other varieties.

Yet, these prized yams, an agricultural goldmine, are cultivated under conditions that undermine their full economic potential. Roads to Mumuye farming communities are often impassable during the rainy season, forcing farmers to sell at giveaway prices to middlemen. The absence of modern farm tools keeps productivity low, while the lack of storage facilities leads to post-harvest losses estimated at 20–30% annually.

This is not just a rural farming problem, it is an untapped economic opportunity for Taraba State. Agriculture employs over 70% of Taraba’s population, yet its contribution to the State’s GDP is far below potential. With targeted investment, yam cultivation could become a multi-billion-naira industry, attracting both local and foreign investors.

The government of the day must take decisive action:

• Build and maintain all-weather farm-to-market access roads to reduce transportation costs and spoilage.

• Equip farmer cooperatives with modern tools and tractors to boost productivity.

• Facilitate access to improved seed yams and fertilizers through subsidized programs.

• Establish storage and processing plants to extend shelf life, reduce losses, and enable export readiness.

• Link farmers directly to national and international buyers through organized commodity markets.

Taraba is not only blessed with fertile soils but also with other high-value resources, tea, coffee, sesame, rice, Maize, livestock, to mention few and vast mineral wealth. A coordinated government effort to harness these assets could position the State as an agricultural and investment hub in West Africa.

The Mumuye Yam is more than a crop, it is a symbol of what is possible when tradition meets opportunity. The farmers are ready, the land is fertile, and the markets are eager. What is missing is the political will to make it happen.

Taraba cannot afford to let this treasure remain buried in the soil. It is time for the Government to turn the Mumuye Yam into the foundation of the State’s next economic chapter.

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