Top Yautia Producing Countries

Yautia, also known as malanga, cocoyam, or tannia (Xanthosoma spp.), is a tropical root crop native to northern South America and Central America. Its cultivation spread throughout the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia following the Columbian Exchange, as European explorers transported the crop to new regions in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the top producers of yautia are found in the Caribbean and tropical Latin America, with the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela leading production. In West Africa, countries like Ghana and Nigeria also grow yautia, often referred to as "cocoyam" there, where it has become a staple food. The crop’s adaptability to humid, tropical climates and its ability to thrive in less fertile soils have made it an important food security crop in these regions, where it is valued for its starchy, nutritious corms and edible leaves.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat