Greater yam tubers are very big. What yield range can I expect and is there a market that pays well for them, or is it mostly homestead use?
2 Answers
Greater yam can produce large tubers and good tonnage per plant when grown long with staking and good soil, but treat yield as a wide range that depends on variety, sett size, support and crop length. The honest market picture is that in much of India greater yam is a local and homestead crop with seasonal, festival and regional demand rather than a big organised buyer chain, so income depends on nearby market appetite and on selling at the right time. It stores reasonably as a fresh tuber, which gives some flexibility. If you have a tribal or local market that values yam, it can be a steady earner; do not assume a premium export price. Check current local rates and demand with your KVK and nearest mandi.
In Koraput yam sells well around festival times in the local haat. The rest of the year demand is quiet, so I time my harvest and storage to the festive season.