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Kenya: Research Firm Develops New Sweet Potato Varieties
Kenya
Saturday 29 September 2007
An agricultural research firm has opened new markets for sweet potatoes raising farmers' interest in growing the crop locally.
Under a programme financed by the United States Agency for International Development, the Kenya Horticultural Development Authority has developed new varieties of the crop that is grown for commercial purposes.
Success of the programme opens yet another avenue for farmers in Kirinyaga district to open a new income stream and improve their livelihoods. Timothy Mwangi of Kenya Horticultural Development Programme said that though sweet potatoes have a growing market in key markets such as Europe, many farmers neglected it to concentrate on horticultural crops.
Sweet potatoes have long been overshadowed by other tubers such as Irish potatoes, reducing it from mere food crop. Development experts say commercialisation of sweet potatoes should help in the fight against poverty.
"We are promoting this crop because it is small holder friendly and produces quick returns to farmers," said Mr Mwangi.
Sweet potatoes is a major staple food in Kenya and the growing of high yielding and faster maturing varieties is expected to contribute to increased food security.
Farmers have however been asked to first confirm the varieties that are available and identify markets before embarking on potato cultivation. "The quality of sweet potatoes derives from the size, shape, colour, cooking time and taste," Mr Mwangi said.
Kenya Agricultural Institute and the International Potato Centre -a Peru based potato research and development organisation have produced several varieties of sweet potatoes for commercial farming.
Under a programme financed by the United States Agency for International Development, the Kenya Horticultural Development Authority has developed new varieties of the crop that is grown for commercial purposes.
Success of the programme opens yet another avenue for farmers in Kirinyaga district to open a new income stream and improve their livelihoods. Timothy Mwangi of Kenya Horticultural Development Programme said that though sweet potatoes have a growing market in key markets such as Europe, many farmers neglected it to concentrate on horticultural crops.
Sweet potatoes have long been overshadowed by other tubers such as Irish potatoes, reducing it from mere food crop. Development experts say commercialisation of sweet potatoes should help in the fight against poverty.
"We are promoting this crop because it is small holder friendly and produces quick returns to farmers," said Mr Mwangi.
Sweet potatoes is a major staple food in Kenya and the growing of high yielding and faster maturing varieties is expected to contribute to increased food security.
Farmers have however been asked to first confirm the varieties that are available and identify markets before embarking on potato cultivation. "The quality of sweet potatoes derives from the size, shape, colour, cooking time and taste," Mr Mwangi said.
Kenya Agricultural Institute and the International Potato Centre -a Peru based potato research and development organisation have produced several varieties of sweet potatoes for commercial farming.
