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Women in Science Mentoring Program (2018)
SG-004: Towards improving nutritional outcomes through adoption of biofortified orange fleshed sweet potato climate smart technologies in Isiolo County, Kenya
PI: Agnes Kavoo, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
Project Dates: October 2019 - March 2021
Project Overview
This project researched and documented the potential of orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in Isiolo County, Kenya. The researchers sought to identify farmers’ knowledge, practices, preferences, methods of utilizing sweet potato products and their willingness to grow the OFSP varieties. The effort was designed to provide a baseline to design interventions and inform decision making both for the individual farmers and for farmers’ groups and institutions. For example, the improved yields and income from OFSP help other farmers more readily adopt the improved variety based on the firsthand results achieved by fellow farmers.
The team sought to empower the first adopters in order to expand the project, and preliminary findings showed promise in improving the productivity and profit for the farmers, households, and farmers’ groups, potentially improving their economic status. Equipping farmers with knowledge, skills, and seed inputs in turn made these farmers champions of learning and adoption of these improved practices.
Final Summary of Project Activities
The project team established demonstration centers for OFSP in collaboration with farmers. Five farmers’ groups were sensitized on OFSP production and utilization. These groups also served as primary OFSP seed distribution and on-farm demonstration centers. In the subsequent cropping cycle, these groups supplied the OFSP seed to an additional 100 households and two institutions, including a children's comprehensive care center and a hospital that serves women and children.
The researchers also provided demonstration sessions on selected climate smart agronomic practices, such as innovative planting methods (e.g. planting on mounds, ridges, at flat beds) and application of inorganic and organic fertilizers, among others. The adoption of these practices by farmers enhanced OFSP yield and household incomes. For example, a farmer in Burat planted OFSP on a quarter of an acre and harvested 200kg of OFSP after 3.5 months, which he sold at KES 50,000 ($500). This represented an 122% increase in yield compared to the previous season.
At the time they submitted their final PEER report, the PI and her team were finalizing a detailed end-of-project assessment for submission to the county government. The team developed three articles for publication (two of which were still under review) and presented their findings at the 15th JKUAT Scientific, Technological, and Industrialization Conference. The PEER project supported and trained two graduate students and two postdoctoral fellows, including three women. The postdocs were trained on how to write research proposals, gained skills in managing research projects, and were engaged in the day-to-day research activities.
Publication
Agnes Mumo Kavoo, R. M. Mwajita, Lilian Wambui Kariuki, and Leonard Muriithi Kiirika. 2022. Appraisal of determinants of orange-fleshed sweet potato production and utilization in Isiolo County, Kenya. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development 22(3): 19886-19909. https://doi.org/10.18697/ajfand.108.19887
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