title: Distribution, management and diversity of yam local varieties in Brazil: a study on Dioscorea alata L.
abstract: Widely spread in the tropics, yams were introduced into Brazil during the colonial period and are currently grown throughout the country. Despite its importance as a pharmacological and food source, there is a lack of studies describing how and where this tuber is grown in Brazil. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the cultivation and distribution of Dioscorea alata in different Brazilian regions. A total of 63 farmers were visited in different municipalities and communities in four regions in the country: South, Southeast, Northeast and Midwest. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect socio-economic, use, management and diversity data for this crop. The majority of interviewers were men, married, with children, using retirement benefits and agriculture as income and family labour as the main support in the yam cultivation. A wide distribution of this species was found, with the occurrence of D. alata in the four sampled regions. A variety of vernacular names for this species was collected, differing according to the region where it is cultivated. Most farmers cultivate yams in fields, however an increased usage of home gardens for the cultivation of this tuber was found. Also, most farmers cultivate yams in association with other crops in areas of different sizes and slash and burn practices, although mostly disappearing, are still being used by many farmers. The results of this study provide more concrete data on the distribution and diversity of this important crop.
authors: Central de Laboratórios de Pesquisa, Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Sagrado Coração, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors: M V B M
authors: MV
authors: Siqueira
authors: Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura ?Luiz de Queiroz? ? ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors: W F
authors: WF
authors: Nascimento
authors: Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura ?Luiz de Queiroz? ? ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors: L R G
authors: LR
authors: Silva
authors: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors: A B
authors: AB
authors: Ferreira
authors: Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors: E F
authors: EF
authors: Silva
authors: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Ming
authors: Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura ?Luiz de Queiroz? ? ESALQ, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Veasey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044822:Biodiversity; D001938:Brazil; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000145:classification*; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000145:classification*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult