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The study was conducted in Nilgaon and Chamurakandi of Sylhet Sadar Upazila under Sylhet district during the 2018-2019 crop seasons. Three orange fleshed sweet potato varieties and a local genotype were used in this study. The ultimate purpose of the experiment was to investigate the yield potentiality, suitability and acceptability of those varieties and genotype. The experiment was performed using 10ft x 10ft plot size with 3 replicas following the RCB design. The study showed that BARI SP-12 performed better and local genotype performed least at both places. In Nilgaon BARI SP-12 gave the highest yield (35.27 t ha -1 ) followed by BARI SP-04 (34.14 t ha -1 ),BARI and the lowest yield was documented in local genotype (24.10 t ha -1 ). BARI SP-12 also produced the highest yield (32.01 t ha -1 ) at Chamurakandi followed by BARI SP-04 (28.43 t ha -1 ),BARI SP-11 (28.00 t ha -1 ) and the lowest was documented in local genotype (19.46 t ha -1 ).However, the mean yield of two places appeared the highest in BARI t ha -1 ) followed by BARI SP-04 (31.28 t ha -1 ) and BARI ) and the lowest was found in local genotype (21.78 t ha -1 ). The average foliage yield of two places ranged from 4.82 to 5.38 t ha -1 . And no significant variations were found in foliage yield and foliage coverage (%) at both places. In the case of organoleptic assessment of storage roots and leaves, BARI SP-04 was the best choice by the respondents due to its appearances, color, taste, texture and fiber content; BARI SP-12 also got merely similar ranked by the respondents. Considering the yield potential and community acceptability, both BARI SP-04 and BARI SP-12 are suitable and potential for homestead food production system in north eastern region of Bangladesh.

No abstract

COVID-19 is now a major global health crisis, can lead to severe food crisis unless proper measures are not taken. Though a number of scientific studies have addressed the possible impacts of COVID-19 in Bangladesh on variety of issues, problems and food crises associated with aquatic resources and communities are missing. Therefore, this study aimed at bridging the gap in the existing situation and challenges of COVID-19 by linking its impact on aquatic food sector and small-scale fisheries with dependent population. The study was conducted based on secondary data analysis and primary fieldwork. Secondary data focused on COVID-19 overview and number of confirmed, recovered and death cases in Bangladesh; at the same time its connection with small-scale fisheries, aquatic food production, demand and supply was analyzed. Community perceptions were elicited to present how the changes felt and how they affected aquatic food system and small-scale fisheries and found devastating impact. Sudden illness, reduced income, complication to start production and input collection, labor crisis, transportation abstraction, complexity in food supply, weak value chain, low consumer demand, rising commodity prices, creditor’s pressure were identified as the primary affecting drivers. Dependent people felt the measures taken by the Government should be based on protecting the health and food security, although it could be detrimental to economic growth in the short term. The study provides insight into policies adopted by the policy makers to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on aquatic food sector and small-scale fisheries.

Sweet potato leaves are the traditional indigenous vegetables and most economically efficient source of micronutrients in terms of both land required and production costs per unit. This study aimed to compare and identify one variety rich with proximate, microelements and anti-oxidants from three high yielding sweet potato varieties viz. BARI SP-04, BARI SP -11 and BARI SP-12 including one local genotype leaves that helps provide leafy vegetables as well as micronutrients to poor community in lean vegetables production period of Sylhet regions. The tested varieties and genotype showed significant variation in different nutrient contents. In case of proximate composition the highest ether extract was found in BARI SP-11 (7.33% ±0.64 DW) and the lowest in BARI SP-04 variety (3.80% ± 0.42 DW). And the ash contents range was (12.05% ± 0.89 to 16.43% ± 1.02 DW), but the highest was recorded in BARI SP-12 and the lowest in BARI SP-04. In case of crude fiber the highest (19.99% ± 1.06 DW) was found in BARI SP-11 and the lowest (16.73% ± 0.62 DW) in local genotype. The microelements composition result revealed that BARI SP-04 reserved the highest (32.82 ± 4.5 mg 100 g-1) Iron & (2.1± 0.5 mg 100 g-1) Zinc and the lowest (19.40 ± 2.5 mg 100 g-1) Iron and (1.27 ± 0.2 mg 100 g-1) Zn in BARI SP-11 & local genotype respectively. However in case of phenolic compound, the highest 257.00 ± 10.3 mg TAE 100 g-1 DW was found in local genotype followed BARI SP-11 and BARI SP-12 but the lowest amount 218.75 ± 7.8 mg TAE 100g-1 DW was recorded in BARI SP-04. These results revealed that BARI SP-12 leaves reserved average standard proximate, microelements and antioxidant among the studied varieties and genotype. But all varieties leaves except local genotype contained essential nutrients which may favorably well to meet micronutrient deficiency especially lean vegetable production period for poor community in Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(1): 43-50, April 2020