Appraisal of determinants of orange-fleshed sweet potato production and utilization in Isiolo County, Kenya

Abstract

Micronutrient deficiency remains a leading challenge among children and pregnant women in arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) of Kenya. An important strategy for supplementing dietary intake of micronutrients, especially vitamin A, is through food fortification. Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) affects 190 million pre-school children and 19 million pregnant women globally. Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OSP) is a rich plant-based source of beta-carotene which is converted into Vitamin A upon consumption and has the potential to alleviate this deficiency among ASALs communities. In this study, household surveys were conducted to profile Orangefleshed sweet potato (OSP) farmers’ knowledge, production practices, constraints, acceptance and willingness to grow OSP in Isiolo County, Kenya. The overall aim of the study was to enhance adoption and improve food and nutrition security. Farmers were purposively sampled depending on their involvement in sweet potato farming for at least one year. A total of 150 farmers representing three wards namely: Burat, Ngaremara, and Bulla Pesa were interviewed. Data were collected using structured questionnaires via face-to-face interviews as well as focused group discussions (FGDs). Collected data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software Version 16.0. A total of six sweet potato varieties were grown in the study area. The yellow fleshed variety cultivated by 40% of the respondents was cited as the most palatable variety (60%). Only 52.4% of the farmers were aware of OSP and its benefits with 100% of the farmers willing to grow the OSP varieties. Several constraints were reported to influence production of OSP which included pests and diseases, lack of improved varieties, short shelf life, and lack of market (76.2%, 81%, 71.4% and 61.9%, respectively). The most common forms of OSP utilization were whole cooked products and dual purpose, that is, food and feed (81% and 52% of respondents, respectively). The dual nature of sweet potato utilization suggests a huge potential for up-scaling production to satisfy a demand for dietary diversification, value addition and product diversification and eventual increase in household incomes and reduced resource related conflicts among pastoralist communities.