Three field experiments, two at Field Stations and one on farmers' holdings, were conducted on yam and yam-based cropping systems in St. Lucia during 1985-86. A comparison of five cultivars of white yam (Yam Langie, Local White, Oriental Yam, Belep and Knnabayo) at the La Ressource Field Station, showed that Oriental Yam yielded significantly higher than the other cultivars both on a cycle-basis (39.8 t/ha) and on a day-basis (208 kg ha-1day-l), and also showed a high degree of tolerance to anthracnose. Intercropping of yam with cowpeas, snapbeans and dasheen at the Union Agricultural Station, or relay intercropping of yam with cowpeas and snapbeans on farmers' holdings in the southwest did not significantly lower the yields, or affect yield attributes of yam as compared to the sole crop. At Union, the different cropping systems did not delay the incidence nor reduce the severity of anthracnose on yam.