Constraints affecting production and post-harvest handling of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) in Ethiopia

Sweetpotato is an important food security crop for millions of households in sub- Saharan Africa. However, its production is constrained by a number of biotic, abiotic and socioeconomic factors. The objective of this study was to assess and document the major constraints to sweetpotato production in Ethiopia. The study also reviewed pre and post harvest handling practices in Ethiopia. The study was conducted in three major sweetpotato growing zones in southern Ethiopia using a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methodology involving 183 households. Heat and drought (21.6%), shortage of planting materials (20.1%), shortage of land (15.7%), diseases (10.0%), insect pests (9.4%), a lack of draft power (8.1%), shortage of money to cover input costs (7.9%), a lack of labour (5.1%) and weeds (2.0%) were identified by the study as the major sweetpotato production constraints. Poor access to markets (22.6%), poor market prices (19.1%), low yield (14.2%), low dry matter content of storage roots of existing varieties (13.6%), a lack of knowledge about sweetpotato processing and preservation (11.7%), access to processing equipment (11.1%) and the logistics of transporting a heavy, bulky crop (7.7%) to market were identified as the major post-harvest constraints. Most farmers stored sweetpotato root insitu but reported challenges of heat (31.6%), insect pests (mainly weevils) (25.6%), diseases (21.8%) and rodents (20.9%). The problem of low yield and low dry matter content can be solved through breeding and agronomic interventions. Experience from other sweetpotato growing regions demonstrate that socio-economic challenges can be overcome.