Assessment of Production and Utilization Practices of Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea Batatas L.) in Sidama Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an important crop which ensures food security in developing countries. It can be harvested at any stage as needed, thereby providing a flexible source of food and income for rural families that are most vulnerable to crop failures and cash income fluctuations. The production and consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) by smallholder farmers in the Sidama region of Southern Ethiopia were explored in this study to identify key problems and opportunities in OFSP production. A preliminary investigation and rudimentary data collection were used to gather data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and index grading. Based on the descriptive analysis, smallholder farmers have small landholdings of 0.51 ha per family. Farmers conserve their planting materials by leaving them in the field. This causes the materials to be extensively infested with diseases, insects, and other vertebrate pests. Farmers (54.4%) do not apply inorganic fertilizersassuming that it stimulates more vegetative growth and results in tasteless storage roots. The continuous cultivation of OFSP without fertilizer application results in nutrient depletion and reduced yield. Further, the production and utilization of OFSP in the Sidama region is constrained by factors such as diseases, lack of storage facilities, lack of planting materials, drought, insect pests, low market price, and shortage of money to purchase inputs. According to the index ranking, drought, shortage of planting material, diseases, and insect pests were the most important. Combinations of social, ecological, and economic factors limit the production of sweet potatoes and therefore, a stronger extension system on agronomic practices and credit system should be made accessible to the farmers.

Trends and gaps in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) improvement in sub‐Saharan Africa: Drought tolerance breeding strategies

“…The genus Ipomoea is the largest, with more than 500 species in the tribe (Kriegner et al., 2003; Shirasawa et al., 2017; Wilkin, 1999; Yamamoto et al., 2020). It ranks the fifth most important food crop in the tropics and the seventh in the world food production after rice, wheat, maize, potato, barley and cassava, with more than 119 million tons in annual production worldwide (FAOSTAT, 2022; Hendebo et al., 2022; Kapinga et al., 2007). According to the International Potato Centre (CIP, 2011), sweet potato is the third most important food crop in seven eastern and central African countries and is ranked the fourth most important in southern African countries.…”

Pre Extension Demonstration of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato Varieties at Midland Districts of Guji Zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

“…The nutritional values, nutrition and profits earning advantages of orange-fleshed sweet potato are through promotion of improved and new OFSP varieties (Girard et al, 2021). Due to its high pro vitamin A, it is the prerequisite to encourage OFSP species production for-resource poor farmers and children (Barnabas et al, 2023).Sweet potato is extensively produced in many parts of Ethiopia, mostly in eastern, southwestern and south and predominantly consumed in fresh (Ejigu et al, 2022, Hendebo et al, 2022. Since the crop is important to maintain food security, the government of Ethiopia gave consideration to the production of sweet potato (Gobena et al, 2022).…”

“…Since the crop is important to maintain food security, the government of Ethiopia gave consideration to the production of sweet potato (Gobena et al, 2022). Nevertheless, productivity of the crop is very little to 8 t•ha −1 when compared to the prospective harvest of 30-73 t ha −1 (Hendebo et al, 2022). The low production of the crop is because of inaccessibility of better-quality varieties and traditional production techniques (Dawit and Habte, 2023;Olasanmi et al, 2023;Ebem et al, 2021).…”