Commercial uses of sweet potatoes, a missing link to community development: a case study of rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

Many rural communities have rampant underdevelopment; hence, the aim of this paper was to investigate if there were knowledge gaps on the commercial uses of sweet potatoes being grown in the rural areas of Beacon-Hill of Chipinge District in Zimbabwe, for community development. This research used qualitative and quantitative approaches, in which interviews and questionnaires were used as instruments for data collection. This research discovered heterogeneous distributions of knowledge on the uses of sweet potatoes, which can enhance community development. This research recommends that the concerned departments of local governments have to train the rural populace on the pertinent knowledge on how to use their natural resources.

Keywords: Community development, sweet potatoes, rural area, Zimbabwe, Beacon-Hill