Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) multiplication fields at Ilindi village are impressive and inspirational. The fields, managed by very committed OFSP growers, using irrigation from the nearby Lake Manyara. The proximity of the land to the lake makes the water table very high allowing the farmers to dig up wells to irrigate their crops, the vines of gold.
Ilindi village is administratively located in a semi-arid area in the Bahi District of Dodoma – Tanzania. From the main road, one does not expect to see anything green and productive growing here; until you come across these evergreen and beautiful OFSP vine multiplication fields.
Julius Kayongola, a farmer from Ilindi village – shared his journey to becoming a seasoned OFSP vine multiplier and root grower. In December 2015, he was one of the beneficiaries of the OFSP seed production and multiplication training course organized by Sugar Research Institute (SRI-Kibaha) Tanzania, with funding from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).