Popularization of Medium Maturing Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) Variety (Alamura) and on Farm Evaluation of Its Root Yield Performance at Halaba Zone, Weira District, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Abstract

Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are one of the most important root crops for their high -carotene content, which protects against vitamin A deficiency. But in the most rural areas of the country, there is a serious health problem related to vitamin A deficiency. The associated causes of inadequate intake and production of this crop are lower adoption, weak extension support, and inaccessibility of improved varieties. For that, demonstration of a recent variety of sweet potato is a necessary action. Hence, it improves the adoption rate, creates awareness, and contributes to food and nutritional security. Accordingly, two farmer training centers and ten farmers were purposely selected to conduct the demonstration. The variety "Kulfo" was used for the experiment by using a 10m x 20m plot size for each variety. Evaluations were conducted during the mid-maturity stage, through the field day, and field visits with concerned stakeholders, beneficiaries, and surrounding farmers. Based on the result, the yield of the new variety and the standard check are 22.5 tons/ha and 10.5 tons/ha, respectively. The result shows that the yield of the improved variety has a 114.3 percent yield advantage compared to the standard check. In addition, the result of cost-benefit analysis reveals that the new variety has 65250.1 Ethiopian Birr more return than the standard check and is ranked by farmers by its disease resistance, taste, and productivity. Therefore, the new variety is recommended for further scale up in the Halaba zone and other similar agro-ecologies, and agricultural extension personnel will be encouraged to facilitate communication among farmers-researchers and vein multiple cooperatives.