From Field to Kitchen: Pre-extension Demonstration of Sweet Potato Variety (Hawassa-09) and Food Preparation in Halaba Zone, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia holds immense potential for sweet potato production, offering significant benefits for food security, nutritional health, and climate resilience due to its high productivity, rich in carbohydrates, short maturity time, and versatile adaptability. However, farmers face challenges, such as a lack of improved varieties, the prevalence of pests and diseases, insufficient promotion of new varieties, and negative perceptions. Addressing these challenges with improved varieties and agricultural practices can unlock sweet potato’s full potential, enhancing livelihoods and resilience in these regions. Concerning the expected outputs, this study focused on the titled “From Field to Kitchen: Participatory Demonstration of Sweet Potato Variety (Hawassa-09) and Food Preparation in Halaba Zone, Central Ethiopia,”. The primary objectives were to promote this new variety, to gauge its tuber yield performance, to evaluate farmers’ perceptions, and to demonstrate its versatile culinary applications. Using the Hawassa-83 variety as a standard check, the demonstration was conducted with 10 selected farmers and one farmer’s training center in Tachegnawu Arsho Kebele. A participatory approach was employed to actively engage farmers and other concerned bodies, ensuring their involvement in the adoption process and enhancing the project’s sustainability. Based on the result of the demonstration, the mean root yield of Hawassa-09 (improved variety) and Hawassa 83 (Standard check) is 31.35t and 17t, respectively. Field demonstrations highlighted the superior agronomic traits of Hawassa-09, including its adaptability and resistance to pests and diseases. Concurrently, hands-on training sessions showcased various food preparation techniques, emphasizing the sweet potato’s potential to improve local diets and nutrition. Accordingly, the results were promising: Hawassa-09 exhibited significantly higher yield performance compared to the standard check, and farmers expressed high satisfaction with its yield and taste. Moreover, this participatory demonstration not only enhanced farmers’ knowledge and perceptions about the variety but also promoted food security and nutritional benefits in the area. Therefore, variety (Hawassa-09) was recommended for demonstration location and similar agroecological conditions to improve sweet potato production and productivity under smallholder farmers.