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Project information
»The problem
Over the last decade, when diseases ruined other crops, sweetpotato
remained a reliable source of food in east Africa. Because
sweetpotato can be bred for high levels of vitamin A, the
crop has the potential to help reduce the dietary deficiency
of this nutrient — a leading cause of blindness and
death in east African children. Diseases and insects limit
sweetpotato production, however. Because the crop is reproduced
through vine cuttings, farmers have little access to new and
/or virus-free planting material.
Although America's orange sweetpotato varieties are high in
vitamin A, African consumers prefer starchy, white types.
Combining desired traits into varieties that are accepted
by local farmers and consumers will require new approaches,
including close collaboration among researchers, community
organizations, and farmers.
»The approach
The research is working to preserve and characterize the genetic
diversity of east African sweet potatoes, to improve the crop
for specific environments and characteristics (including virus
resistance and high vitamin A content), and to develop improved
means of storing perishable planting materials. The researchers
will work closely with local farmers.
»The goal
To produce improved sweetpotato varieties and to encourage
their use while conserving biodiversity.
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Investigators
Principal Investigator
Dr. Simon Gichuki, Kenya
Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Nairobi, Kenya
Associates
Dymphina Andima, KARI,
Kisii, Kenya
Dr. Agnes Kihurani, KARI,
Nairobi, Kenya
P.J. Ndolo, KARI,
Kakamega, Kenya
Nancy Nganga, KARI,
Tigoni, Kenya
Martin Odendo, KARI,
Kakamega, Kenya
Collaborators
Kornel Burg, Austrian
Research Centres, Seibersdorf, Austria
Maria Berenyi, Austrian
Research Centres, Seibersdorf, Austria
Dr. Regina Kapinga, International
Potato Center, Kampala, Uganda
Heneriko Kulembeka, Lake Zone Research and Development Institute,
Tanzania
Dr. Don La Bonte, Louisiana
State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Jeremiah Simon , Lake Zone Research and Development Institute,
Tanzania
Arthur Villordon,
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Dapeng Zhang, International
Potato Center, Lima, Peru
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Annual progress reports
Click the links below for annual progress reports.
Year 1 (4/2002-3/2003)
Progress
report
Year 2 (4/2003-3/2004)
Progress
report
Year 3 (4/2004-3/2005)
Progress
report
Year 4 (4/2005-3/2006)
Progress
report
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Publications
None listed as of
.
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Related Links
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