Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) has various flesh colours.  Orange fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is important for both food security and nutrition because of its provision of vitamin A. Factors limiting adoption of OFSP include; inadequate quality seed, poor agronomic practices and general lack of information on the OFSP value chain. Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) collaborated with partners to disseminate OFSP technologies in Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Siaya, Kisumu and Migori Counties.  For the last five years, KALRO together with partners including; Anglican Development Services, Community Research in Environment and Development Initiatives, Rural Energy and Food Security Organization, Ugunja Community Resource Centre, Community Action and Rural Development, and Community Rehabilitation and Environmental Protection Programme disseminated OFSP technologies in the above counties. This work was supported financially by ASARECA, AGRA and GIZ.   Approaches used included training of trainers in seed and root production, promotion of OFSP through demonstrations, field days, shows and exhibitions, introduction of OFSP in schools and training in value addition. KALRO collaborated with International Potato Center to avail basic seed to seed growers.

The objective of these efforts was to disseminate OFSP with a goal of improving livelihoods of the resource poor small-holder farmers.  Five varieties (Kabode, Vitaa, SPK 004, Kenspot 4 and Kenspot 5) were promoted, over 6.0 million vines disseminated, 575 ToTs and 5000 farmers trained in seed and root production, 135 field days and over 300,000 stakeholders reached with OFSP technologies.

Key words: OFSP, seed, dissemination, roots, utilization