Sweetpotato Knowledge Portal
By Caroline Namara & Rachael Cox. On Tuesday 31st January 2017, in Burera district, Gashaki sector, Mbwe village; over 250 Feed the Future beneficiaries gathered at the launching of household groups where messaging about; nutrition and agronomic practices will be shared/trained. This activity which was led by DERN …
Read More »Turning a Bundle of OFSP Vines into Family Gold
By Aime Ndayisenga Mr. Dieudonne Dusabimana, a 51-year-old farmer and head of a household of nine, resides in Cyanzarwe Sector of Rubavu District, not far from the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His farm is on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains that straddle the borders …
Read More »Brave men contribute to the solutions of their community needs.
By Aime Ndayisenga and Rachael Cox Over the last 10 years, the government of Rwanda through the Ministry of health (MOH) has made remarkable gains in maternal and child health. The maternal mortality ratio has been reduced from one of the world’s highest in 2005 at 750 deaths per …
Read More »Making profitable venture through selling sweetpotato vines.
By Caroline Namara and Sindi Kirimi Many at times, when farmers are told about the many added values of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotatoes (OFSP), they can hardly believe it comparing to the local varieties they have been growing for decades. Those who are faced with prospects of poor yield due …
Read More »Meet the Rwanda’s sweetpotato hero woman!
By Aime Ndayisenga and Kirimi Sindi It’s always difficult to try something new! Doubts, fear and the confidence you have gained over long experience with things you are familiar with, are the main motive of that inner resistance to jump into new ventures. This is common with business people …
Read More »Seminar by Dr Arthur Villordon (LSU): “The Role of Phosphorus and Soil Compaction in Determining Sweetpotato Storage Root Length and Shape”
On 30 January 2017, Dr. Arthur Villordon held a seminar titled “The Role of Phosphorus and Soil Compaction in Determining Sweetpotato Storage Root Length and Shape.” The seminar was held at the International Livestorck Research Institute. Other interested parties had an opportunity to attend via Webex. Dr. Arthur Villordon is …
Read More »Annans visit Jumpstart project in Ghana
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his wife Nane Annan held meetings, January 9 -11, with key stakeholders involved in the Jumpstarting Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) project ongoing in Ghana. They also made field visits, interacting with project beneficiaries in Ghana’s central and the greater Accra area. Participants included CIP …
Read More »Updates from the Sweetpotato Seed Systems Community of Practice (SS CoP) Sixth Consultation
The Sweetpotato Seed Systems Community of Practice (SS CoP) Sixth Consultation was held from 6th to 8th December 2016 at Pride Inn in Nairobi, Kenya. The planning and review meeting was attended by the SASHA project pre-basic seed system sub-grantees. There were 45 participants from 11 countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, …
Read More »Commercializing quality planting material: A Case of Sweetpotato in Eastern and Western Africa
Sweetpotato is a major food crop in eastern and southern Africa. However, smallholders have not been able to achieve its potential yield due to lack of access to and use of quality seed. The majority rely on farmer-to-farmer exchange of vines of unknown quality free of charge. This is a …
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