Assessment of Packaging Technology for the Exportation of Fresh Yams

This study aimed at identifying a suitable packaging material for the exportation of fresh yams. To this end, a set of six packaging materials (i. e. , paperboards, plastic vats, nets, jute bags, synthetic bags and cane baskets) were assessed on four varieties of Dioscorea alata (sopie, florido, gba, sampian) and one variety of Dioscorea cayenensis (mampan). Some physicochemical characteristics such as moisture, ash, protein, total sugar and phenol contents, and titrable acidity, water absorption capacity and water solubility index were determined after 85 days storage period. The resistance to shocks of yams for the different packing materials was also investigated. Overall, the packing materials did affect significantly (p 0.05) the physiological and physicochemical parameters of yam varieties. Data from the physicochemical analyses and from resistance measurement of the packed tubers showed that, for the exportation of fresh yams, paperboard was the most suitable material, followed by plastic vat and net.