Indian Yam Exporter — Elephant Foot Yam from Kerala & Tamil Nadu

The category

Why Indian yam for export

India is one of Asia's largest yam producers. Two distinct species drive export demand: Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, known locally as Suran or Senai) — primarily from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — and Greater Yam (Dioscorea alata) — grown across the same belts. The country produces nearly 1 million tonnes of yam annually, with steady export demand from the GCC, Southeast Asia and the South Asian diaspora retail in the UK, Canada and Australia.

Yam tubers are calibrated for export by weight: small (1–2 kg, retail-ready), medium (2–4 kg, foodservice), and large (4–7 kg, processor / bulk). Quality criteria are absence of cuts, no sprouting, no soft spots, and clean unbroken skin. Sourced from grower cooperatives that follow standard agronomic practices for yam cultivation — adequate spacing, mulching, and timely harvest before the dry season ends.

ZoeM sources primarily from Thrissur and Palakkad (Kerala) and Salem (Tamil Nadu). Packhouses do post-harvest curing (brief sun-drying to harden the skin), grading by weight, and packing in jute or HDPE mesh bags. Yam ships in ambient ventilated containers — no refrigeration needed — making it cost-efficient on longer trade lanes.

Variety guide

Compare varieties & grades

We supply the variety and grade most appropriate to your target market and end use. Below is a side-by-side comparison.

Primary export

Elephant Foot Yam (Suran)

The flagship Indian yam variety — large round flattish tubers, mild flavour, used in traditional South Asian and West African cuisine.

Botanical name Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
Tuber weight Small 1–2 kg · Medium 2–4 kg · Large 4–7 kg
Skin Brown, hardened post-cure
Flesh Cream to pale yellow, firm
Shelf life 60–90 days ambient ventilated storage
Top markets UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia

Specialty supply

Greater Yam

Cylindrical to oblong tubers, white or purple-tinged flesh. Smaller export volume than Elephant Foot but consistent demand from South Asian and Caribbean diaspora markets.

Botanical name Dioscorea alata
Tuber weight 2–5 kg typical
Flesh White, sometimes purple-tinged
Top markets South Asian diaspora retail, Caribbean grocery

Origin

Where ZoeM sources from

Primary regions: Kerala · Tamil Nadu · West Bengal. Full sourcing footprint: Kerala (Thrissur, Palakkad, Ernakulam), Tamil Nadu (Salem, Erode, Tiruvannamalai), West Bengal (Bardhaman, Hooghly), Odisha (Cuttack).

Season: Main harvest October through March; controlled storage extends supply year-round.

We work with farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and direct grower networks in each region. Pre-shipment grading and quality control happens at FSSAI-licensed packhouses and processing facilities close to the source farms, minimising post-harvest delay.

Specifications

Trade specifications

Standard export specifications. Custom grading available on confirmed orders.

HS Code	07143000 (Yams, fresh, chilled or dried)
Botanical Names	Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Elephant Foot) · Dioscorea alata (Greater Yam)
Origin States	Kerala (primary), Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Odisha
Varieties	Elephant Foot Yam (Suran), Greater Yam, regional cultivars
Weight Grades	Small 1–2 kg · Medium 2–4 kg · Large 4–7 kg
Packaging	Jute or HDPE mesh bags, 25 kg / 50 kg; jumbo bags for bulk
Container loading	Approx. 22–25 MT per 40' container (ambient ventilated)
Temperature	Ambient ventilated (no refrigeration needed)
Shelf life	60–90 days from packing in cool dry storage
Shipping ports	Chennai, Cochin, Kolkata, Tuticorin

Quality assurance

Certifications & quality control

Every shipment is certified, lab-tested, and traceable to its source. This is non-negotiable for our buyers and forms the spine of our supplier relationships.

APEDAAgricultural & Processed Food Export Authority — Government of India

FSSAIFood Safety & Standards Authority of India license

GAPGood Agricultural Practices — farm-level certification

MSME / UdyamIndian Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises

IECImporter-Exporter Code — DGFT

NABL Lab TestingPre-shipment testing at NABL-accredited Indian labs

Pre-shipment lab testing — every shipment ships with a NABL-accredited lab report covering relevant quality and safety parameters for the product type (moisture, residues, microbiological, density, colour, etc.). The report travels with the shipment documentation.

Phytosanitary & fumigation — we arrange Indian Plant Quarantine Department phytosanitary certificates and any required pre-shipment fumigation per the importing country’s regulations.

Traceability — we record source farm, packhouse, processing date and container number for every shipment.

Buyer questions

Frequently asked questions

What yam species do you export?

Two species — Elephant Foot Yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, also called Suran or Senai) which is the flagship export, and Greater Yam (Dioscorea alata) for specialty markets.

What weight grades are available?

Three standard grades — Small (1–2 kg), Medium (2–4 kg), Large (4–7 kg). Custom grading possible on bulk orders.

Does yam need refrigerated containers?

No. Indian yam ships in ambient ventilated containers. Post-harvest curing (brief sun-drying to harden the skin) extends shelf life. Cool dry storage at destination is sufficient.

What is the shelf life?

60–90 days from packing in cool dry storage. Cured tubers travel well on long trade lanes.

How many MT in a 40' container?

Approximately 22–25 MT per 40' container in mesh bags.

Which destinations work best?

GCC (UAE, Saudi, Oman), UK, USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia — wherever there is South Asian, West African or Caribbean retail demand.

What certifications?

APEDA registered, FSSAI licensed, GAP-certified source farms, phytosanitary certificate per shipment.