Building a Traditional Yam Barn: Post-Harvest Food Preservation in West Africa
Units: 0.5 Type: Practical Skills / Sustainable Agriculture Format: 1-hour video + step-by-step illustrated guide + project-based assignment
🎓 Course Description:
This short, hands-on course teaches students how to construct a traditional yam barn, a time-tested, low-cost method of storing yams and other tubers in rural West African settings. Students will explore the cultural significance, design variations, and engineering logic behind these barns, and will either build a physical model (on-site) or create a detailed blueprint for one.
This course supports food security, agricultural sustainability, and rural entrepreneurship.
🧱 Learning Outcomes:
Students will:
• Understand the post-harvest challenges for yam farmers
• Learn traditional barn-building techniques using local materials
• Construct or model a yam barn suited to their local environment
• Evaluate barn durability, ventilation, and protection from pests
🔨 Step-by-Step: How to Build a Traditional Yam Barn
🧰 Materials Needed (Locally Sourced):
• 6–12 strong wooden poles (2–3 meters tall) – hardwood if possible
• Bundles of flexible sticks for framing
• Rope, vine, or twine (or wire) for tying
• Optional: thatch, old cloth, palm fronds for roofing/shade
• Optional: barbed wire or netting to deter goats/pests
🪜 Construction Steps:
1 Choose a Location
◦ Find a slightly elevated, shaded, and well-drained site.
◦ Avoid termite-infested areas.
2 Mark the Layout
◦ Mark a rectangular or circular area (~2m x 2m or ~3m diameter).
◦ Yam barns can be square or round depending on local tradition.
3 Dig Foundation Holes
◦ Dig 6–12 post holes at regular intervals (0.5–1m apart).
◦ Each hole should be ~30–50cm deep.
4 Erect Vertical Poles
◦ Insert large wooden poles into the holes and pack soil tightly.
◦ Ensure vertical stability—this is the barn’s main support.
5 Frame the Rack
◦ Tie horizontal sticks across the vertical poles at 30–50cm spacing.
◦ Create a "lattice" on which yams can be hung or tied.
6 Add Roof or Shade (Optional)
◦ If sun or rain exposure is a concern, build a simple thatch or metal roof.
◦ Shade increases yam longevity.
7 Tie or Hang Yams
◦ Tie yams to the framework using vines, string, or cloth.
◦ Keep space between yams for air circulation.
8 Animal Protection (Optional)
◦ Fence the barn or wrap the lower section in wire mesh or thorn bushes.
◦ Keeps out goats, rodents, and pigs.
📸 Assignment:
Students must do one of the following:
• Build a small-scale yam barn in their community (document with photos)
• Interview a local farmer about yam storage practices
• Create a detailed drawing or 3D model of a barn, adapted to their region
• Write a one-page reflection on food security and indigenous technology