How To Farm Yam Without Destroying The Bush

If you've read my blogs and you've watched my videos then you probably already understand my views and how I see things. I was so impressed looking at this farmland but because of what I already know about them, I can see the other side of the story.

The yam farm loos so nice, I give the farmer 7 stars for keeping the land tidy and organising everything so well. But all is not well.

Yam farming may look nice but it causes some problems to the forest itself.

Let me put it right because it's not the game itself that is causing the problem, it's how we choose to help or support them grow. The thing is, every yam vine must climb up to the top to get sunlight. We know how important sunlight is for the growth of the crops.

So because of this situation, the farmers go to the forest so they can cut down some small trees they'll use as support sticks for the vines of the yam. Image one farmer doing this every single year for over a decade. The bush will slowly become empty and the land will also get spoiled.

This is how it hurts the farm. If the method changes the situation will also change. There is actually a better way to do this and I've discussed it in my video extensively.

The yam farmer can plant some pigeon peas together with the yams. What happens is that the pigeon pea grows very fast and becomes really strong. Then the yam vines climbs on it so that means the farmer no longer needs to cut any of the forest tree again because it's getting an automatic support.

This also makes the soil very fertile because the pigeon pea is the type of plant that can take nutrients from the air and put into the soil. It gives back as it takes.

That nutrient further helps the yam grow bigger and healthier without using those chemical fertilizers.

At harvest time, the farmer gets a double benefit too. There is a lot of yam to sell or eat with his family and there are also many pigeon peas to harvest.

This taught me something important, we can change our methods of farming in a way that supports nature than ruin it.