Integration of Farmers in Technology Developments as a Basis for Enhancing Sweet potato Productivity in Kenya

Abstract

Sweet potato is a food security crop for smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa. Pest and disease constraints are the most important biotic stresses, with viral diseases being the most devastating. Through a focus-group discussion, it was established that lack of clean sweet potato planting vines is a major constraint in production. Consequently, most farmers establish a new crop from virus-infected volunteer plants or an old sweet potato crop. The objectives of the study were to identify farmer-friendly technologies for conservation and maintenance of healthy planting vines; disseminate the best appropriate technology for farmers and varieties tolerant to sweet potato virus diseases (SPVD); and expose farmers to sound sweet potato production and value-addition practices for increased income generation. The experiments evaluated spraying with dimethoate, physical barriers to virus vectors (insect-proof net and polythene), maize plants as a physical barrier surrounding plots, and roguing. Parameters monitored were SPVD incidence, whitefly and aphid populations. High numbers of whiteflies were recorded on the control and none on the plots protected by net or polythene barriers. Disease control through roguing was effective, and netting and polythene covers can be of value for rapid multiplication and maintenance of sweet potato planting materials. Through a participatory approach, the roguing, net and polythene-cover technologies were demonstrated to farmers in coastal Kenya alongside farm trials to evaluate 17 sweet potato genotypes for resistance and/or tolerance to the SPVD. By end of the project, more than 100 farmers had adopted roguing on their farms. Disease-tolerant varieties were also disseminated to the farmers after the end of the evaluation period. The on-farm evaluation trials formed a basis for training farmers. Some farmers from the two key groups had an opportunity to attend a farmer-exchange visit in Uganda by courtesy of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture. Integration of farmers in research, coupled with capacity-building, can enhance the adoption of new technologies, thereby enhancing sustainability.