Using sand storage technology: can we store sweetpotato roots for food and vines, thus contributing to food and nutrition security in drought-prone areas?

Abidin, P.E.; Asare, Kofi; Kazembe, John; Akansake, Daniel A.; Dorgbetor, I.K.; Suleman, Issahaq; Achibase, S.; Imoro, S.; Dery, E.K.; Mourik, T. van; Carey, Edward E.

doi:10.17660/actahortic.2019.1251.30

Cited by 4 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The impact pathway components for scaling were used as they had already been proven by Jumpstarting OFSP and the ROH OFSP project in Malawi. This helped the management anticipate the results with success within a year as anticipated in the project proposal (Abidin, et al., 2018b).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The method helps combat climate uncertainty because of the unpredictable prolongation of drought. Meanwhile, the beta‐carotene content from OFSP is retained (Abidin et al., 2018a; Abidin et al, 2018b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The projects expected that the farmers would adopt the results immediately. This scaling project worked on the Sand Storage Innovation Package of Technologies comprising good agricultural practices, OFSP, and sand storage (Abidin et al., 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Progress toward impact at scale of orange‐fleshed sweetpotato in Ghana

Abidin,

Dorgbetor,

Adofo

et al. 2024

Crop Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) was known as a minor root crop in Ghana. Starting in 2010, the International Potato Center (CIP) and multiple partners implemented orange‐fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) projects to reposition this crop in Ghana. CIP‐led projects from 2010 to 2021 were identified as Research for Development Initiative projects. These projects consisted of (i) new variety development and commercial seed systems (Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa: 2009–2019); (ii) OFSP products for business development, breeding‐seed system linkages, strategic awareness for demand creation, sensitization, capacity building, advocacy, and strengthen public‐private partnerships (Jumpstarting OFSP: 2014–2017); (iii) research on shelf‐life and appropriate storage practices (two U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance: 2013–2015 and 2017–2018); and (iv) innovative on‐farm variety testing using the ClimMob‐CitizenScience method (Triadic Comparison of Technologies– roots, tubers, and bananas scaling: 2020–2021). In November 2020, CIP withdrew from Ghana, and the scaling partner, the Reputed Agriculture 4 Development Foundation, led this project up to the end. Strengthened partnerships have driven the expansion of OFSP into value chains. Key partners driving changes were private sector producers and processors, small‐holder farmers, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research institutes, universities, Women in Agricultural Development, Government Extension, Ghana Health Service, and Ghana School Feeding Program. AGRA OFSP for scaling in Ghana (2021–2022) revealed OFSP notably contributed to food security, health, and wealth. It fits in the Food System and contributes to Food Justice in Ghana. Future scaling will depend on consistent policies and efforts to respond to challenges and opportunities along the value chain for sustainability. Impact pathways of theories of change and scaling helped us understand the scaling progress of OFSP in Ghana.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Progress toward impact at scale of orange‐fleshed sweetpotato in Ghana

Abidin,

Dorgbetor,

Adofo

et al. 2024

Crop Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Malawi, during the sand storage development, women farmers helped design a storage pit with steps that made storing and removing sweetpotatoes more convenient than other methods including sandboxes, grain silos, and pits without steps or other methods that had been tried. In both Ghana and Malawi, sand storage enabled women to use household level storage to feed their families or sell, and to sprout roots and quickly produce vines when they need to plant in response to the increasingly variable onset of rains due to climate change ( Atuna et al, 2017 ; Abidin et al, 2018a , b , 2019 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender mainstreaming in sweetpotato breeding and dissemination in Ghana and Malawi

Utoblo,

Abidin,

Dery

et al. 2024

Front. Sociol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gender responsiveness in breeding programs to meet client and end user preferences for crops is essential. This case study analyzes the implementation experience of gender-responsive breeding and variety dissemination in Malawi and Ghana, focusing on good practices and challenges encountered. In Malawi, a training-of-trainers approach was employed to share knowledge among trained farmers. In Ghana, a research study was conducted to identify gender-based preferences for sweetpotato to define breeding objectives. The participation of social scientists, food scientists, and sweetpotato breeders in the GREAT (Gender Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation) team provided a multidisciplinary perspective, addressing questions and responses in the field. Research efforts were strengthened by focusing on food quality through the establishment of an analytical laboratory for rapid evaluation of nutrition and food quality, including sugars. This helped develop sensory analytical capacity to better understand quality attributes and market segments, guiding breeding and improving market opportunities for women. Breeding outcomes resulting from gender inclusion led to the release of some sweetpotato varieties meeting end user and consumer preferences, as well as adoption of OFSP varieties by men and women. Other good practices for gender inclusion and responsiveness include providing funds for gender-based research and activities, engaging gender specialists and social scientists in trans-disciplinary teams, designing program activities with gender considerations, and incorporating traits in seed multiplication and dissemination decisions. Application of these gender inclusion practices resulted in adoption and development of acceptable sweetpotato varieties.

show abstract

“…The project Extending OFSP Availability for Vulnerable Households through Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Post‐Harvest in Ghana reached 207 males and 138 females on improved practices for crop husbandry and OFSP postharvest handling and storage 43 . Farmers were able to produce OFSP using GAPs and to store the roots in dry sand for 18 weeks with only 21% losses so that stored roots can be used either as food and/or planting materials at the end of the storage period 44 . Since 2019, “the Sweetpotato Project” (2019–2021 with a budget neutral extension until 2022) being implemented in Nigeria, Benin and Niger targets the development of OFSP value chain.…”

Section: Progress In Ofsp Development and Delivery In West Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Orange‐fleshed sweetpotato production: Progress and perspectives for value chain development in West Africa

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Africa and Asia bear the greatest cases of vitamin A deficiency whereas Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) as a possible solution to vitamin A deficiency, brings income, food and nutritional security for smallholders involved in its production. Reports indicated low adoption of OFSP in West Africa due to poor value chains and wide adoption of White-Fleshed Sweetpotato (WFSP). Here, we reviewed OFSP interventions and programmes undertaken in West Africa, identified constraints limiting OFSP production, and updated the required actions for OFSP value chains development in West Africa. We reported 10 significant interventions and 20 released OFSP varieties within 4 countries. The main bottlenecks to OFSP value chains development are the lack of improved cultivars exhibiting high and stable yield potential, predominance of WFSP, non-exposition of whole population to OFSP varieties, limited number of improved OFSP varieties available, and inadequacy of improved OFSP varieties to smallholder preferences. The roles of donors, research institutions, local partners, and smallholder's contributions in increasing OFSP production and consumption are provided. This will fuel the development of strong OFSP value chains in West Africa.

show abstract

Using sand storage technology: can we store sweetpotato roots for food and vines, thus contributing to food and nutrition security in drought-prone areas?

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Progress toward impact at scale of orange‐fleshed sweetpotato in Ghana

Progress toward impact at scale of orange‐fleshed sweetpotato in Ghana

Gender mainstreaming in sweetpotato breeding and dissemination in Ghana and Malawi

Orange‐fleshed sweetpotato production: Progress and perspectives for value chain development in West Africa

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About