On-farm evaluation of orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in northeastern Uganda

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) varieties currently represent the least expensive, year-round source of dietary vitamin A available to poor families in Eastern Africa. An on-farm study was conducted in North-Eastern Uganda to assess field and post harvest performance and acceptability of selected OFSP varieties. Eight farmer groups participated in the evaluation. Field performance attributes assessed included foliage coverage, resistance to diseases and pests, drought tolerance, maturity, yield of roots, shape of roots, size of roots, appearance of root flesh and general crop appreciation. Taste, flavour, starchiness, cooked root appearance and general acceptability were the post harvest attributes assessed. The sweetpotato varieties evaluated were Ejumula, Kala, SPK004, Sowola 6, Sudan, 4-4 and Arivumaku. Farmer groups from different locations within the study area grew and evaluated the different sweetpotato cultivars and both adults (men and women) and children aged between 7 and 10 years assessed the post harvest attributes. Results obtained showed that there were significant variations in field performance of the sweetpotato varieties over the two seasons. Overall, field performance of the tested varieties was in the order Kala> SPK004> Ejumula> Sudan> 4-4> Sowola > Arivumaku. Consumer acceptance was in the order SPK 004> Ejumula> Sowola 6> Sudan> Kala> 4-4. Varieties Ejumula, Sudan and SPK004 had the best overall performance in post harvest attributes. At national level, results from different locations showed that varieties Ejumula and SPK004 are widely accepted by farmers, consumers and even processors.These two varieties have now been officially released.