A focused brainstorming meeting on “Current Status and Future Breeding Strategies for Development of Improved Elephant Foot Yam Varieties” was organised at Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, under the auspices of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Tuber Crops (AICRPTC). The programme brought together leading scientists and experts to formulate a strategic roadmap for this high-value crop.
The programme was graced by Dr. K. Dhanunjaya Rao, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. YSR Horticultural University as the Chief Guest; Dr. Sudhakar Pandey, Assistant Director General (Horticultural Sciences) ICAR; Dr. R. Ramanandam, Director, Research, Dr. YSRHU; and Dr. M. Sheshu Madhav, Director, ICAR – National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture.
The session was presided over by Dr. G. Byju, Director, ICAR – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Kerala reflecting the national importance of elephant foot yam and the urgency for coordinated action.
Elephant Foot Yam, a ₹3,000–4,000 crore crop contributing nearly 10% of tropical tuber production in India, has emerged as an important component of the horticulture sector.
However, productivity across states ranges widely from 12 to 60 t/ha, against a realizable potential of about 80 t/ha, highlighting the urgent need for mission-oriented breeding interventions to bridge the yield gap.
During the deliberations, participants resolved to develop short-, medium- and long-term breeding strategies to address key constraints affecting crop improvement, including:
• Shy and non-synchronous flowering that limits hybridisation
• Narrow genetic base requiring diversification
• Need for shorter-duration varieties
• Reduction of acridity and improvement of culinary quality
• Development of resistance or tolerance to collar rot, nematodes, and other major diseases
• Alignment of breeding objectives with processing quality, storage, and market requirements
The meeting emphasised the need to integrate breeding innovations with robust seed systems, disease-resilience strategies, and market-oriented value chains to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability. Participants stated that, with sustained and coordinated scientific efforts, elephant foot yam has the potential to emerge as a flagship crop of tropical horticulture, delivering higher genetic gains and improved farmer incomes.
Approximately 50 delegates from 18 states and Union Territories participated in the programme, underscoring nationwide interest in advancing research and development of this important tuber crop.
(Source: ICAR- Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Kerala)
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