Quality of life and quality of food

Sweet potatoes are an important food crop in many parts of Africa. However, they perish easily and problems with in-ground storage methods can mean sweet potatoes are only available in certain seasons, often with large changes in prices. Economic returns and food security could be improved through improving farmers’ knowledge of crop storage and handling methods.

To help poor farmers in Tanzania benefit more from sweet potato crops, the UK Department for International Development’s Crop Post-Harvest Programme (CPHP) funded a programme of work looking at post-harvest activities in the sweet potato production chain. 

This programme used several different approaches:

• Different storage and handling technologies were assessed and validated on-farm to increase the incomes of poor farmers.
• The storability and acceptability of orange fleshed varieties (a good source of pro-vitamin A) was assessed. Policymakers used project outputs to promote orange fleshed sweet potato as a useful food to contribute towards control of vitamin A deficiency.
• The benefits of sweet potatoes were quantified and this information was disseminated to farmers and consumers, to increase sales. An increase in consumers' acceptance of roots before and after storage confirmed the effectiveness of the technologies.

All the information available, mainly from previous CPHP funded projects, about successful storage and handling methods was shared between farmers and partner institutions. This information enabled partners and farmers to understand potential sweet potato markets and, amongst other things, the benefits of trading during the off-season. Through linking stakeholders in the sector together, the project linked farms into research. Some of the farmers who were research partners spontaneously adopted the new storage technologies.

The project brought other successes. Some farmers changed their handing techniques and packing methods to improve produce quality and value when selling to supermarkets. Imalaseko supermarket, which was not active at the beginning of the project, developed a strong interest and began selling fresh sweet potatoes from project farmers around Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Farmers and partners also improved other technical and management skills.

The project produced several important policy lessons:

• Research into sweet potatoes is effective at targeting the poorest members of a community.
• Government should review taxation policy on sweet potato marketing. They should remove unnecessary levies and facilitate access to credit.
• Most farmers felt powerless in setting prices to traders because they were not organised into groups. Group formation needs assistance from governments, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations. 
• Traders can assist in technology changes that improve marketing success; Imalaseko supermarket recommended the use of special packaging materials.
• In rural areas farmers also make charcoal for sale. If sweetpotato moves from a subsistence food crop to a cash crop, women could benefit economically and socially from sweet potato sales. They could then abandon charcoal production, which would benefit the environment.
• Research projects need time to have an impact.
• Supply of good quality seed material or germplasm is vital. Farmers looked to research organisations for this, but other sources are needed.

Source(s):
‘Enhancing the livelihoods of the rural and urban poor through improved market access for sweet potato in Tanzania’, DFID Crop Post Harvest Programme, 2005

Funded by: DFID Project R8282

id21 Research Highlight: 7 November 2005

Further Information:
Gabriel T Ndunguru
Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre
22 Ocean Road
P.O. Box 977
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania

Tel: +255 (0) 22 2118 137/9
Fax: +255 (0) 22 2116 713
Contact the contributor:  ndunguru@africaonline.co.tz

Tanzania Food and Nutrition Centre (TFNC)

Andrew Westby
Natural Resources Institute
University of Greenwich at Medway
Central Avenue
Chatham Maritime, Chatham
Kent ME4 4TB
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1634 883478
Fax: +44 (0) 1634 880077
Contact the contributor: a.westby@gre.ac.uk

Natural Resources Institute, UK

DFID Crop Post Harvest Programme, UK

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