Sifelani Tsiko
Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor

Recently, Zimbabwe launched the orange-fleshed sweet potato variety as part of efforts to boost the country’s food and nutrition security. Our Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor Sifelani Tsiko (ST), speaks to Dr Maria Goss (MG), a renowned agronomist to help unpack the science behind the development of the new sweet potato variety and its potential benefits to the country.

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ST: What do you think is the major reason why Zimbabwe is embracing the development and scaling of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) now?

MG: This is a strategic move by the Government in response to the food and nutrition insecurities, which have been compounded by the Covid-19 imposed restrictions on access to diverse livelihood sources and in some cases, agricultural inputs in some marginalised areas. Sweet potatoes have been a traditionally accepted and resilient enhancing food crop across Zimbabwe since time immemorial, thus adoption and up scaling of the OFSP might not be faced with significant resistance.

ST: Could you briefly explain the science and process behind the development of the OFSP. What are the key features and yield levels of the new sweet potato varieties?

MG: Besides being bio-fortified with extra micro-nutrients such as beta-carotene and Vitamin A, OFSP are virus free thus improving yield and tolerance to other diseases during the first two cropping cycles. However, after retaining and re-planting these vines into the third cropping season, the chances of these vines getting viral infections is high, and there will be a need to replace them with virus free propagation materials.

The advantage might be that during these growth cycles when the vines are virus-free, the farmers are able to reap the benefits of improved food and nutrition security. High yields enables them to sell off the surplus to generate income as well as enabling communities to preserve some of these tubers through value addition initiatives such as flour, drying and enhanced storage for utilisation during the off season.

ST: To what extent do you think Zimbabwean farmers and consumers are prepared to adopt this disruptive innovation which is meant to address a pressing need for the high levels of vitamin A deficiency among children under five years of age in Zimbabwe and in other African countries?

MG: Adoption by consumers might not be a major factor, given the realities and challenges Zimbabwe is currently undergoing — malnourishment among the five-year and below, food insecurity among larger percentage of the most vulnerable communities even within urban areas, reduced sources of alternative livelihood initiatives due to Covid-19 and extreme weather events, raising costs of agriculture inputs, food, plus health care etc., which becomes more necessary as populace succumbs to non-communicable diseases plus nutrient-deficiency related ailments.

Secondly, this crop has been one of the most popular and easily accepted traditional crops within the country, and thirdly, it doesn’t require high amounts of soil amendments as long as the vines are grown in an area which had legumes as the previous crop, or in an area with well composed humus to provide the requisite soil nutrients for the OFSP to reach its yield potential. This is an aspect which we really need to consider and manage.

Without adequate soil nutrient/condition, we might fail to achieve the projected good impacts and potential. Being a tuber crop, we need to ensure that there is a reliable and steady supply of moisture for the crop to perform well.

Tuber crops need adequate moisture especially during critical growth stages. Thus all the ecosystem support services need to be considered and enhanced for optimum performance.

ST: Consumers strongly prefer white sweet potatoes which they are used to. What can be done to make sure there is demand for the yellow-fleshed sweet potatoes?

MG: Consumer awareness campaigns, this is where responsible reporting and social media knowledge dissemination is key. Bring in farmers who have experienced the benefits, impartial and realistic sharing of experiences and knowledge prepares others to strategically adopt in an informed and prepared manner.

ST: Breeding the OFSP vines is one thing and scaling them out to smallholder farmers, quite another. How can the country promote the adoption of the new sweet potato varieties by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe?

MG: Breeding and multiplication is a process which needs to be done in aseptic conditions, meaning there is a cost-implication to their production. There is need, therefore, for multi-sectorial, strategic and smart partnerships to be identified, developed and established amongst all key drivers. Otherwise the resource constrained farmers will not be able to afford these varieties if business models and scaling out models which are farmer-centric are not developed.

A multi-sectoral approach inclusive of farmers, FIs, breeders, researchers etc need to be identified. There is no way resource constrained farmers can manage on their own, without some start up model being put in place for them.

Don’t get me wrong, these farmers are experienced, passionate and hard-working, but the combined challenges of extreme weather events, Covid19 and associated negative impacts, has greatly eroded their innovativeness and absorptive/coping strategies, thus they do need a helping hand for them to raise up again. Decentralise the vine production centres. Why in big towns only? Why not establish these multiplication sites at grass root levels? I know the Government has vocational farmer training facilities in every province and in some districts, why not start from there? Establish 1 or 2 model centres, then cascade further nationally.

ST: What could be the role of the media and other agricultural specialists in raising awareness of the seed systems and nutrition health benefits of the new sweet potato varieties?

MG: There is a need for responsible reporting, knowledge dissemination, capacity building on agronomy, value addition, processing and proper retention and storage as next seasons propagation material. Education to create the awareness amongst consumers of the significant health benefits of OFSP.

Complementary innovation is required in promotion and advocacy to ensure a supportive institutional environment. We need to involve nutritionists and secondary processing industry, farm equipment manufactured for appropriate and relevant technologies. These inter linkages and synergies are missing, yet they are critical for sustainable and viable interventions.

ST: Some experts suggest that getting sustained commitment and local buy-in to the concept of bio-fortification by local communities, government agencies, NGOs and researchers could help build ownership and the willingness of donors to invest in the OFSP programmes. What is your comment on this?

MG: Totally in agreement. But this has to be systemic, strategically planned and executed with over-arching responsible frameworks/authorities/committees whatever, to ensure tracking, monitoring and modifying in response to emerging trends or needs as per contextual needs. This is key for success, one size does not fit all.

Practical realities always demand that we re-strategise and modify approaches to niche specific needs.