Specialised Sweetpotato Vine Multiplication in Lake Zone, Tanzania: What “Sticks” and What Changes?

Abstract

In Lake Zone, Tanzania, farmers were trained to multiply and distribute quality sweetpotato planting material. The objectives of this study were to assess changes in skills and practices among the trained farmers as vine multiplication became a specialized task. Nine months after the project ended, all 88 decentralized vine multipliers (DVMs) operating as groups (72%) or individuals (28%) were visited and qualitative data on their current multiplication practices collected through a questionnaire, checklists and observations. Results showed that 69% of DVMs were still multiplying vines, but less than half were using the seed production technologies promoted by the project. 34% used rapid multiplication beds; 61% used conventional plant spacing on ridges for roots and vines and 5% used both. As the vine multiplication cycle became a specialised activity, the multiplication and root production cycles were separated. Vines were treated differently in terms of site selection, length of cutting and spacing, depending on whether the objective of their use was for high root or high vine production. Capacity building of specialised vine multipliers and scaling-up seed interventions should consider the implications of skilling and task segregation in a broader context based on society’s choice of technologies and agrarian change.

Nutrition and food security impacts of quality seeds of biofortified orange-fleshed sweetpotato: Quasi-experimental evidence from Tanzania

“…The intervention aimed at increasing the availability of quality sweetpotato planting material to farmers at the start of the rainy season in order to promote early planting, enable them to take full advantage of unpredictable rainfall, and to increase root yields (McEwan, Lusheshanija, Shikuku, & Sindi, 2017). Individual farmers and farmer groups were identified to become decentralized vine multipliers (DVMs).…”

“…The total value of the voucher was Tsh 600 (approximately US$ 0.39), with the beneficiary contributing Tsh 100 paid to the DVM in exchange for vines, and the DVM then receiving Tsh 500 after the voucher was redeemed through the Implementing Partner. It is estimated that by the end of 2012, the Marando Bora project had reached 110,000 farmers with quality vines (McEwan et al, 2017). The planting materials, if well conserved, can be used for future planting.…”

Review of the Impact Pathways of Biofortified Foods and Food Products

“…Sensitization and promotional materials were also provided to farmers to raise awareness, including the nutrition benefits of OSP varieties. At the end of 2012, the Marando Bora project was estimated to have reached 110,000 farmers with vines [ 47 ]. The effect of the Marando Bora project on the proportion of roots of OSP from total sweet potato production for the household was estimated among n = 434 households at the end point: after exposure to the project, the proportion of OSP from total sweet potato production increased by 16 percentage points for participants’ households relative to nonparticipant households.…”

Participatory approaches to diversification and intensification of crop production on smallholder farms in Malawi

“…4.3) should therefore be combined with initiatives that ensure availability of quality planting material of the most preferred varieties at the right time. This can be achieved by promoting rapid vine multiplication techniques under irrigation in the dry season either for own use or as a business opportunity to sell to others (McEwan et al, 2017), though sustainable vine multiplication business can only be achieved where there is sufficient demand (Rao and Huggins, 2017). Promotion of OFSP in combination with training on vine conservation has proven to enhance conservation practices by farmers (Okello et al, 2015).…”