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Publications and Other Works

10 days Training of Trainers (ToT) Course Announcement on “Everything you ever wanted to know about sweetpotato”

Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), in partnership with Sugarcane Research Institute (SRI-Kibaha) and the Building Nutritious Food Baskets (BNFB) project are conducting a Training of Trainers ...
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COLLECTING AND HARMONIZING DATA AS AWAY OF IMPROVING PLANNING

 [caption id="attachment_12102" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] CIP meeting with partners (Photo: Caroline Namara)[/caption]Collection and harmonization of data entails gathering and measuri...
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WHY I LOVE ORANGE FLESHED SWEETPOTATOES AND I KNOW YOU WILL TOO!

Interesting Facts about sweetpotatoes![caption id="attachment_12146" align="alignleft" width="300"] Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato roots rich in vitamin A[/caption]Did you know, for example, that sweet...
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STATA training in Nairobi, Kenya

CIP and its partners has, since 2015, embarked on efforts to harmonize the collection and analysis of M&E data. In January 2017, the Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation Community of Practice (...
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Scaling up Biofortified Crops through a “Food Basket” Approach for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa

Biofortification is one of the sustainable and cost-effective ways of addressing micronutrient malnutrition. Biofortification efforts are gaining global recognition and impacting on millions of peo...
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The 12th National Agriculture Show - A School for Many!

The National Agriculture Show is an annual event that exhibits innovations and best practices in the agricultural sector in Rwanda. It is an ideal platform that brings exhibitors and visitors toget...
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Can a new sweet potato help tackle child malnutrition?

Can a new sweet potato help tackle child malnutrition? - BBC News
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Annonce cours 2017 sur Tout ce Que Vous Avez Toujours Voulu Savoir a Propos de la Patate Douce

Le Centre International de la Pomme de Terre (CIP) et le projet "Promotion de la Patate Douce à Chair Orange en Afrique de l'Ouest à Travers des Marchés Diversifiés mis en Œuvre au Burkina Faso par...
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Sida: Research on sweetpotato rewarded with prestigious award

Sida speak about the 2016 World Food Prize win and the work that Dr. Robert Mwanga has been doing with orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Uganda.Sidastödd forskning om sötpotatis belönas
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14th SpeedBreeders and genomics annual meeting takes place in Uganda

Sweetpotato Breeders from 12 African countries will meet in Colline Hotel, Mukono, Uganda between June 2-5 2015 for the this 14th Annual Sweetpotato Breeders’ Meeting.
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Great Potential in Agribusiness for the Youth

By Aime Ndayisenga & Immaculate Akello  "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." says Ralph Waldo Emerson. It takes more than just tim...
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The 16th Sweetpotato SpeedBreeders and Genomics Community of Practice meeting opens in Kigali

15 May 2017 - Kigali: The 16th Sweetpotato SpeedBreeders and Genomics Community of Practice (CoP) meeting has opened in Grand Legacy Hotel in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. The theme of the meeting is “I...
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The 17th Sweetpotato SpeedBreeders and Genomics Community of Practice meeting in Nairobi, Kenya

The Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) SpeedBreeders’ and Genomics Community of Practice (CoP) held its 17th consultation meeting on 5th to 8th June 2018, at the Swiss Lenana Hotel...
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2016 The Most Wonderful Year for Sweetpotato

Dear members of the Sweetpotato Community of Practice,   2016 certainly has been a landmark year for biofortification and orange-fleshed sweetpotato. It is a time for all of us to celebrate ...
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2016 World Food Prize laureate Robert Mwanga talks about his passion for sweetpotato breeding

Robert Mwanga is one of four 2016 World Food Prize laureates. To counter the devastating effects of Vitamin A deficiency, which contribute to high rates of blindness, diarrhea, immune system disord...
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Major initiative: 52 ways to love sweet potatoes

The 52 Ways to Love Sweet Potatoes initiative’s goal is to educate consumers about the versatility of sweet potatoes and expand their usage repertoire to include more quickly prepared, easy and fam...
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The 7th Sweetpotato Seed Systems Community of Practice Consultation takes place in Uganda

The 7th Sweetpotato Seed Systems Community of Practice Consultation was held from 13th to 14th June in Colline Hotel, Mukono Uganda. The theme of the meeting was Towards Upscaling Sweetpotato Seed ...
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Digital Thinking in Agriculture series is launched

A special edition anthology, published in partnership with Foreign Affairs, brings together the views of twenty leading thinkers on all aspects of food systems, smallholder farming, and the transfo...
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One on One with Dr. Hans Adu Dapaah, outgoing interim chairman of the SPHI Steering Committee

"The fact that I am no longer the chair does not mean that I have washed my hands off SPHI. Whatever role I can play at the national level, I will do it. I will not relent to speak about it at any ...
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A Ugandan farmer discusses his experience using sweetpotato as cattle feed

When Mathias Sserunkuma Salongo heard that sweetpotato breeders were holding a meeting with local livestock farmers at the National Crops Resources Research Institute (NaCRRI) in Namulonge, he drop...
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Access to nutritional value and behavioral change through farmer groups sessions

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 househ...
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ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONCERTED ACTION CAN ACCELERATE NUTRITION-SENSITIVE FOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

The scale of the nutrition challenge facing the world is huge and if governments do not get a grip on the problem, our global food system could end up bankrupting our health systems. Malnutrition ...
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African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND) publishes Special Issue devoted to biofortification

The African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND) has published a Special Issue devoted to Biofortification. The Special Issue is a culmination of an idea mooted by Dr Ho...
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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 ...
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Announcing the 8th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative Technical Meeting

The 8th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) Meeting will be held from 24th through 27th September 2017 at the Ramada Resort in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, followed by a field tr...
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Army Worms: A threat to Food Security in Rwanda

Written by Donata Kizza and Aime E. Ndayisenga In early 2017, army worms were reported to have invaded Rwanda destroying maize, sweetpotato, among other crops. This was the first time the country h...
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Armyworm: New sweetpotato pest invades Rwanda

Like any other crop, sweetpotato is susceptible to attacks by pests and diseases due to various factors including the agroecological and climate conditions. Rwandan farmers, particularly maize and ...
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ASHENDA CULTURE AND OFSP PROMOTION IN TIGRAY

Ashenda: The day when Tigranya women show the true colors of their beauty The air in this Mekele City is filled with Ashenda songs. Everybody has been waiting for this. They know today they en...
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B-Bovid champions Kofi Annan sweet potato initiative in W/Region

 B-Bovid champions Kofi Annan sweet potato initiative in W/Region
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Bakers from Naivas Supermarkets trained on how to use orange-fleshed sweetpotato puree in bakery applications

[caption id="attachment_116543" align="aligncenter" width="782"] Bakers' training held at Naivas Supermarket in Kitengela (Photo: Christine Bukania/CIP-SSA[/caption] On 29-30 April 2017, 24 bakers...
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Bakery training using orange-fleshed sweetpotato takes place in Nairobi

On 30-31 March 2017, Euro Ingredients Ltd in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP) held a training to demonstrate to bakers how to use orange-fleshed sweetpotato for bakery produ...
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Better planting material for Kabondo’s sweetpotato farmers

Sweetpotato farmers in Kabondo, located in Homa Bay County, Western Kenya, produce over 60% of the sweetpotatoes consumed in the country.
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Biofortification Pioneers Win 2016 World Food Prize For Fight Against Malnutrition

Washington, D.C. (June 28, 2016) Drs. Maria Andrade, Robert Mwanga, Jan Low and Howarth Bouis were announced today as the 2016 World Food Prize Laureates during a ceremony at the U.S. State Departm...
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Borlaug Program Pairs U.S., African Sweet Potato Researchers

Borlaug Program Pairs U.S., African Sweet Potato Researchers | USDA Foreign Agricultural ServiceThanks to USDA's Borlaug Fellowship Program, an African researcher is in the United States acquiring ...
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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 mo...
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Breed sweet potatoes with maximum benefits

The taste of a particular food is relevant to how much and how often we eat it.
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Bronchures and Posters

Bronchure 1 - Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (Portuguese): Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA) is an initiative designed to improve the food security ...
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Building resilient food systems through sweetpotato

Building resilient food systems through sweetpotato - International Potato CenterOver 100 delegates are meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the eighth annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health I...
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Building synergies between modernized sweetpotato breeding and seed systems for improved varieties in East and Central Africa

SweetGAINS (Genetic Advances and Innovative Seed Systems) is a project aiming to modernize sweetpotato breeding operations, accelerate and expand the development and dissemination of nutrient rich...
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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: MARKETING, PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MEETING IN KAMPALA, UGANDA

We’re thrilled to announce the call for abstracts for the Marketing, Processing and Utilization Community of Practice Meeting. The annual meeting will be held in Kampala, Uganda on April 9-11, 2019...
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Call for good and promising practices on the use of ICTs for Agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and the e-Agriculture Community of Practice (COP) are launching ...
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Capacity building in the Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Community of Practice: What Participants have to say

Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Community of Practice (MLE CoP) started in 2015, with 16 members, drawn from five different organizations. Since then, the membership has grown to 35. The CoP me...
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Celebrating partnerships in the struggle to end hunger.

International Potato Center celebrates its role in ending hunger throughout the world.By Aime Ndayisenga & Donata Kizza [caption id="attachment_123420" align="aligncenter" width="718"] Vivine c...
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CHAMPIONING VITAMIN A-RICH ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO IN NIGERIA

Championing vitamin A-rich orange-fleshed sweetpotato in NigeriaNigeria, together with partners such as the Building Nutritious Food Baskets Project (BNFB), is using innovative approaches to tackle...
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CIP makes a presentation of sweetpotato value chain to high level BMZ Delegation at ILRI Campus in Nairobi

On 16 November 2015, a visit by a high level delegation from BMZ, visited ILRI, where Tawanda Muzhingi presented the progress that the International Potato Center (CIP) is doing to address bottlene...
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CIP-Mozambique bereaved by the passing on of a great OFSP chef: Irene de Souza

[caption id="attachment_125130" align="alignleft" width="272"] Irene de Souza[/caption]It is with great sadness to announce that one of the great OFSP champions, Irene de Souza is no more, having p...
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CIP Participates at the 2016 African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF 2016)

 'Seize the moment! Securing Africa's rise through agricultural transformation' was the theme and campaign for this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF2016).  The event brought togethe...
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CIP participates in the first National Root and Tuber Crops fair in Mozambique

By Abdul Naico and Jose Ricardo On July 6, 2017CIP participated in the first National Root and Tuber Crops fair organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the...
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CIP Partners with NC State, Others in Gates Foundation-Funded effort to accelerate improvement of OFSP

CIP participated in the development of the project entitled Genomic Tools for Sweetpotato Improvement (GT4SP).
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CIP scientist wins best poster award at the Agricultural Biosciences International Conference (ABIC) 2014

CIP scientist wins best poster award at the Agricultural Biosciences International Conference (ABIC) 2014
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CIP WELCOMES RACHAEL COX AS THE PROJECT MANAGER.

[caption id="attachment_13179" align="aligncenter" width="676"] The Feed the Future OFSP project manager (Photo Aime Ndayisenga/CIP)[/caption]Rachael comes to Rwanda after working in Latin America ...
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International Potato Center wins the Al-Sumait Award 2016

[caption id="attachment_13937" align="alignright" width="338"] CIP staff review the OFSP roots and vines on display at an exhibition Credit: S. Quinn[/caption]On Monday October 17th 2016, The Kuwai...
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CIP’s Director General’s first visit to Rwanda for the SPHI meeting and Field Trip

In October 2015, Dr. Barbara H. Wells, the Director General of International Potato Center (CIP) traveled to Rwanda to participate in the 6th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SP...
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COMMERCIAL VINE MULTIPLICATION: UNLEASHING AGRICULTURE's POTENTIAL FOR IMPROVED INCOMES

Four commercial vine multipliers from Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda who were very clear that sweetpotato seed is their top most profitable venture.
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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 majori...
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Commitment to Mainstreaming Beta-Carotene (pro-Vitamin A) into National Program Breeding Efforts

At the recent 15th Annual Sweetpotato SpeedBreeders  Meeting, held in Nairobi 6-10 June 2016, discussions were held concerning which of the released varieties to date were being adopted most widely...
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Crispus Mbaluto talks of his experience working on the Sweetpotato Knowledge Portal

Crispus Mbaluto is currently a PhD student at the University of Leipzig and University of Jena (FSU), Germany. For the last two months, he has contributed tremendously towards the relaunch of the S...
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CRS Tanzania

1 - SASHA Marando Bora Sustaining family livelihoods in Musoma Rural District - A case study of SASHA projects to improving rural livelihood by providing farmers with quality seed of improved sweet...
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My daughter returned to school because of sweetpotato

If you met Clementine Uwanyirigira, you would easily believe she has a white collar job in a top-tier company. Uwanyirigira’s orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) production is the white-collar job, ...
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Decentralized Vine Multipliers ensure the flow of healthy sweetpotato planting material to farmers in Mozambique’s Niassa Province

Septembers in Niassa are dry. Warm winds blowing over the Northern Mozambican province send billowing clouds of dust across the land. It is hard to imagine that anything could grow here. Yet the pa...
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Determination drives Beatrice towards her success

Nyiransengimana Beatrice, who started farming on a small scale with a group of other farmers, is currently a model Orange-fleshed sweetpotato(OFSP) farmer and has further moved into poultry farming...
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THE DFID FIELD VISIT TO SUSTAIN BENEFICIARIES IN RULINDO AND GAKENKE DISTRICT OF RWANDA ON 25th MAY 2017

THE FARMER SWEETPOTATO ROADSIDE MARKET [caption id="attachment_119695" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Farmers selling sweetpotato at the Road side market (Photo by Kirimi Sindi/CIP-SSA)...
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Dr. Dorcus Gemenet appointed Research Scientist on Molecular Breeding and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Potato and Sweetpotato

Dr. Dorcus Gemenet has been appointed the Research Scientist on Molecular breeding and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Potato and Sweetpotato for the International Potato Center (CIP) and will be based...
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Dr. Tawanda Muzhingi-Emerging Leaders Network Award Recipient 2018

Explain what you do in your work in one sentence (or two!).My job involves providing scientific evidence on the nutritional value and food quality of RTB crops and diversifying the ways in which RT...
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Dr. Thomas van Mourik is the new manager of the Healthy Gold for Ghana Project

Dr. Thomas van Mourik has joined the International Potato Center (CIP) as Country Manager for Ghana and Project Manager for the Healthy Gold for Ghana project. The project is working to improve vit...
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Early Generation Seed Experts Meeting in Nairobi

Representatives from 11 countries and13 different institutions with sub-grants under the Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA) project met at the Pride Inn (Rhapta Road) in N...
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Early Generation Seed Production – Can public sector institutions and NARIs shift to a business orientation?

During this year’s annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative meeting in Ethiopia, we held a panel discussion with senior managers of institutions engaged in sweetpotato pre-basic seed pro...
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Effective Marketing Strategies for Sweetpotato Seed

[caption id="attachment_124983" align="aligncenter" width="670"] “Quality starts at source”. Pathogen tested tissue culture plantlets under micro-propagation for pre-basic seed production at Crop R...
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EMPOWERING WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

Women are central to agriculture and make a strong contribution to food security and nutrition at both the household and community levels. In many developing countries, they make up almost half of ...
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What end users want: Sweetpotato speed breeders simulate varietal assessment and selection

On June 4, 2015, over 40 members of the Speed Breeders Community of Practice, who were holding their 14th Annual Meeting in Mukono, Uganda, visited the National Crop Resources Research Institute (N...
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Taking sweet potatoes beyond the thanksgiving feast

Researchers at N.C. State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI), Kannapolis, NC, recently published results of their work evaluating the phytochemical content of sweet potatoes. The...
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Learning Data and Knowledge Management at CIP

Eric Muthuri is a fourth year Computer Science student at Moi University. As a core requirement in his third year of study, he had to undertake COM 329: Industrial Attachment. Eric joined CIP in Oc...
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Ethiopia also wants to know everything about sweetpotato...

[caption id="attachment_120288" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Banner announcement of the ToT held between 3 and 7 July 2017[/caption] Since 2012, the International Potato Center (CIP) has run n...
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Tout ce que vous avez toujours voulu savoir à propos de la patate douce (FR)

Volume 1Thème 1: Aider les adultes à apprendreThème 2: Origine et importance de la patate douceThème 3: Sélection variétale et caractéristiques de la patate douce Volume 2Thème 4: La Patate do...
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Tudo o Que Sempre Quis Saber sobre a Batata-doce (PT)

Volume 1Tópico 1: Ajudando os Adultos a AprenderTópico 2: Origem e Importância da Batata-doceTópico 3: Selecção e Características Varietais da Batata-doceVolume 2Tópico 4: Batata-doce de Polpa Alar...
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Vyote Unavyopaswa Kujua Kuhusu Viazi Vitamu (SW)

Volume 1Mada ya 1: Kuwasaidia Watu Wazima KujifunzaMada ya 2: Asili na Umuhimu wa Viazi VitamuMada ya 3: Uchaguaji wa Aina ya Mbegu za Viazi Vitamu na Sifa Volume 2Mada ya 4: Viazi Vitamu Rang...
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Everything you ever wanted to know about sweetpotato TOT course held in Burkina Faso

The second edition of the Training of Trainers’ (TOT) course titled “Everything you ever wanted to know about sweetpotato” was held from 19 to 28 January 2017 in Pacific Hotel, Bobo Dioulasso, Burk...
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Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato: Communication for Change Award

Through a generous endowment from Dr. Jan W. Low, a recipient of the World Food Prize in 2016, an annual prize has been established to recognize the best sweetpotato communication product.  This ye...
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Deadline Extended- Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato: Communication for Change Award

The Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) is pleased to announce that the ‘Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato: Communication for Change Award’ will take place for a second year ...
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Fannie Gondwe: Award winning commercial vine multiplier in Malawi

Lilongwe-based agro-dealer Fannie Gondwe recently graduated from the Graça Machel Trust - Women Creating Worth Program and was also among the four finalists who pitched their businesses to the trus...
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Farmers in Malawi come together to form a National Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato Association

Written by Brian Kachisa, CIP Training and Promotion Officer Market linkages is one of the key issues that inhibits the development of agriculture among smallholder and commercial farmers in M...
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Farmers encouraged to explore economic potential of sweet potato

Farmers encouraged to explore economic potential of sweet potato Farmers and other stakeholders are being encouraged to explore the business potential of sweet potato along its value chain. Besi...
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Farmers in northern Rwanda launch the agricultural season with sweetpotato farming

 [caption id="attachment_123252" align="aligncenter" width="644"] Each of the project's eligible farmer received an 8 Kg bundle of OFSP vines. Photo: Seraphine U. (CIP-SSA)[/caption]It is plan...
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Finding the sweet spot of Africa’s agriculture

[caption id="attachment_13136" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] CIP's Maria Andrade in a sweetpotato field in Mozambique[/caption]Africa is a continent where, at least outwardly, we like to celebr...
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Fortified against blindness

Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children.
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Ghana hosts second Training-of-Trainers’ course on “Everything you need to know about sweetpotato”

[caption id="attachment_120345" align="alignleft" width="302"] Participants at one of the practical sessions during the TOT course (photo credit: Queku Antonio)[/caption] Ghana has hosted its seco...
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Growing sweetpotatoes in the desert: what this could mean for food security in sub-Saharan Africa?

For many of us, deserts represent dry wastelands where almost nothing can take root, let alone grow and flourish. But for the last three years, Dr. Hari Krishna has been growing sweetpotato in the ...
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Guidelines for Integrating Nutrition into Agriculture Enterprise Mixes in Uganda

The Ugandan government's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) has published a book titled "Guidelines for Integrating Nutrition into Agriculture Enterprise Mixes in Uganda...
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Harmonizing definitions for sweetpotato seed classes: What role for Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation practitioners?

The Sweetpotato Seed Systems and crop management Community of Practice (SSS-CoP) is in the process of coming up with common definitions for sweetpotato seed classes within sub-Saharan Africa. Count...
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HarvestPlus Chief Executive Officer pays courtesy visit to International Potato Center, Nairobi

Nairobi, 31 May 2017 – Beverley (Bev) Postma, the Chief Executive Officer of HarvestPlus, paid a courtesy call to the International Potato Center (CIP) in Nairobi, where she met with senior scienti...
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Honoring Black History and the Month of the Woman

In this posting I´m sharing with you the sucess story of a freed slave who published one of the earliest cookbooks released by an African-American in the US. It happened in 1881.
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HOW INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP END HUNGER IN AFRICA

Africa has set an ambitious target of halving poverty and ending hunger by 2025. To share insights into how the continent can capitalise on science to achieve this, food Scientist and co-winner of ...
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How WhatsApp, Wheel covers and Motorbike flaps are Enhancing Demand for Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato Vines in Tanzania

In Tanzania—as in many parts of sub Saharan Africa (SSA)—orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) farmers are facing the challenge of prolonged droughts. This has led to a limited demand for clean plantin...
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All by Itself, the Humble Sweet Potato Colonized the World

All by Itself, the Humble Sweet Potato Colonized the WorldSome agricultural experts are skeptical. "This paper does not settle the matter," said Logan J. Kistler, the curator of archaeogenomics and...
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Have you heard of the news in town? Orange-fleshed sweetpotato is the new Ibijumba Guma Guma Superstar

 Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is trending, especially since it was recently featured as a picture of the day in one of the local newspapers. Most people are now interested in knowing more abou...
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Prof. Ibok Oduro talks about the excitement of sweetpotato processing

“I’m always very excited to work with sweetpotato because you can look at its nutrient strength and tap into that strength to develop products for all age groups, from the young to the old,” says P...
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Immersive learning experience at INERA, Burkina Faso

Peer-to-Peer business plan implementation assessment and review"It is always a great pleasure to have partners check our progress and for the opportunity to learn from other institutions in order t...
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IMPROVING ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL FOODS THROUGH ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATOES

 Nutritional foods contain different types of nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. A balanced diets contains foods with these nutrients. Such balanced diets are necessary ...
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Improving adoption of quality sweetpotato planting material through innovative marketing strategies

[caption id="attachment_13199" align="aligncenter" width="869"] Seed systems CoP members discuss possible marketing strategies - Arusha 2016 (Credit C. Bukania)[/caption]Lack of reliable seed syste...
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International Potato Center scales up for more potato varieties in Rwanda

By Donata Kiiza & Aime NdayisengaHaving had a successful story in promoting the Orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Rwanda, International Potato Centrer (CIP) is pushing to see how to breed more pota...
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Journal article chronicles the spread of orange-fleshed sweetpotato through sub-Saharan Africa

Most often, the process of the development and dissemination of new agricultural technologies is not documented.  Some say, that if a new product is good, it should spread “by itself”.  But the rea...
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What does it take to be a successful seed multiplier? Serge Ganza from Rwanda shares his journey

Serge Ganza, is one of CIP’s successful decentralized vine multipliers, commonly known as DVMs. With a background in agronomy and rural development, he was exposed to agriculture while he worked as...
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Empowering Women through Nutrition and Hygiene Education

Justina José, a single mother living in Nomola, a hamlet in Malema District, Nampula Province, exemplifies many of VISTA’s women beneficiaries. Now 19 years old, she gave birth to a daughter at the...
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In Kenya, so much depends on the orange flesh sweet potato

There is a superstition in western Kenya, in the lush area that borders Lake Victoria.
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Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) improving sweetpotato seed systems

International exchange of germplasm and trade and movement of plants and plant products is crucial in the quest for adequate food production and supply. Since 1996, the Kenya Plant Health Inspector...
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Kwame Ogero awarded Best Poster Prize at the Emerging Technologies for Global Food Security Conference, June 2016

[caption id="attachment_12324" align="alignleft" width="437"] Kwame Ogero (center) with the judges of the poster session[/caption]Kwame Ogero, a Regional Research Associate based in Mwanza, Tanzani...
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Lack of certified sweet potato

Uganda’s sweet potato production has reduced from 2.8 million tonnes in 2010 to 1.8 million tonnes. Sweet potato is one of the root crops that can shield a family from starvation during dry spells...
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The Land and Water Advantage Under Climate Change

SWEETPOTATO CAN HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE: THE LAND AND WATER ADVANTAGE UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE SESSION AT COP23[caption id="attachment_123474" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Experts explore the ...
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LEADING BY EXAMPLE

By:Wells Kumwenda, Edward Chibambo and David Matiya. Mrs. Stelia James is a lead farmer in Group Village Headman Chimwabvi, Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima district. She is married to Kili...
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Lessons from orange sweetpotato saturation and thought leader experiments for promoting adoption in Uganda

 13 June 2017  – Dr. Dan Gilligan (IFPRI) held a webinar to present a study on lessons from orange sweetpotato saturation and thought leader experiments for promoting adoption in Uganda. The presen...
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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 v...
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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 v...
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Making sweetpotato leaves-a life changing game: A story of AHEZANAHO Epiphanie

Ahezanaho Epiphanie is a 42-year old mother of six and a farmer living in Terimbere village, North West of Rubavu District. Since she got married in early 1991, Ahezanaho has relied on subsistence ...
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Malawi Youth Embark on Fight Against Malnutrition and Poverty

Malawi youth embarks on fight against malnutrition and poverty - Malawi Nyasa Times - Malawi breaking news in MalawiRepresentatives for Youth in Agriculture for Economic Development (YAED) are call...
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Managing Food Safety and Quality in Small-Scale Food Processing for Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) Value Chains in Sub-Sahara Africa training workshop

Managing Food Safety and Quality in Small-Scale Food Processing for Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) Value Chains in Sub-Sahara Africa training workshop took place on 4th – 8th of December, 2017 at ...
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Webinar: Marker-Assisted Breeding as Next-Generation Strategy for Genetic Improvement of sweetpotato in Sub Saharan Africa

This webinar was held on 24th March, 2016 at 4.00 pm EAT. The main speakers were: Prof Craig Yencho – Distinguished Professor and Program Leader Sweetpotato and Potato Breeding and Genetics Program...
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MARKETING AS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF SWEETPOTATO SEED SYSTEMS

Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) undertakes two critical functions in the sweetpotato seed system: as the regional centre of excellence for germplasm management    and exchange, in ...
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Marketing, Processing and Utilization Community of Practice (MPU CoP) Meeting in Malawi

The SPHI Marketing, Processing and Utilization Community of Practice (MPU CoP) held its 5th Annual Meeting on 23-24 April 2018 at the Lotus Hotel in Blantyre, Malawi. The theme of the meeting was O...
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Meet the 2016 World Food Prize Winners!

Drs. Maria Andrade, Robert Mwanga, Jan Low and Howarth Bouis were on Tuesday 28th June announced as the 2016, World Food Prize Laureates during a ceremony at the U.S. State Department. Maria Andrad...
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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 ...
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Members of the SPHI participate in the 2016 Integrated Nutrition Conference in Nairobi

[caption id="attachment_14286" align="alignright" width="525"] The SPHI booth at the Sarit Centre Expo hall L. Gachanja)[/caption]Members of the private sector, civil society, research and donor co...
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Mihiretu Cherinet completes Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program

[caption id="attachment_121311" align="alignleft" width="388"] Mihiretu Cherinet poses in front of the LSU AgCenter (photo credit: A. Villordon)[/caption] Tell us something about yourself I hold...
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Monitoring Learning and Evaluation Community of Practice seeks to improve and harmonise data M&E collection and reporting in sweetpotato projects through mobile data management tools

Armed with nothing but umbrellas and their mobile devices, a group of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) officers from different countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region disembark from a b...
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The Monitoring Learning and Evaluation Community of Practice (MLE CoP) Holds its Annual Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya

 The MLE CoP, founded in 2015 by the Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA), brings together M&E staff from CIP and partners that are members of the Sweetpotato for P...
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Mozambican Head of State, Filipe Nyusi meets VISTA Team at the Posto Agronomico of Nampula

The VISTA project had the privilege to present its work in promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato to the Mozambican Head of State, Filipe Nyusi during the Posto Agronomico of Nampula on June 8, 2015.
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A NEW ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO TO FIGHT VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY IN NIGERIA

Nigeria’s National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) – Umudike and the International Potato center (CIP) have released a new orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) variety. Solo Gold— UMUSPO4—was of...
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Nigerian schools adopt sweet potato to boost nutrition

Nigerian schools adopt sweet potato to boost nutritionBy Alex Abutu [ABUJA, NIGERIA] The school feeding programme of Nigeria is using orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) ̶ Mothers delight ̶to help...
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Nigerian Schools Adopt Sweetpotato to Boost Nutruition

Nigerian schools adopt sweet potato to boost nutrition ABUJA, NIGERIA] The school feeding programme of Nigeria is using orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP) ̶ Mothers delight ̶to help fight vita...
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OFSP in the spotlight at the FARA Africa Agriculture Science Week in Kigali

[caption id="attachment_12263" align="alignleft" width="389"] The SPHI booth at FARA-Kigali (photo: A. Ndayisenga)[/caption] Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) has been hailed as an innovation with ...
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OFSP Make your own cupcake a great hit!

As announced in my previous posting, my OFSP Booth at Maputo Gastronomy Fair, this weekend was well visited.
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Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato for Ghana School Feeding Programme - Pilot Programme Launch

[caption id="attachment_13647" align="aligncenter" width="499"] An OFSP agent explainig the nutritious importance of OFSP to a child[/caption]1:00 pm on Thursday 23rd June 2016 at Tibung primary sc...
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OFSP Promotional day at Bobo iDE BF

National Tv covering OFSP mass event at Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, promotional day, stakeholders invited to network to jumpstart OFSP value chain, market, processing and consumption in Burkina...
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OFSP Vine and Root Farming is a Worthwhile Business Venture

Five years after deciding to venture into Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) farming, Festo Mashuda is a happy man and a renowned OFSP vine multiplier in the Coastal region of Tanzania. Mashuda’s s...
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One storm can change everything

[caption id="attachment_13174" align="alignleft" width="300"] One of the prepared fields (Credits: C Namara)[/caption]Everybody knows that agriculture heavily relies on weather and that a single st...
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Online discussion forum on sustainable crop production intensification (SCPI) of horticulture based systems (mainly fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers.)

How can we produce more with less?With this discussion forum, FAO aims to bring together experts of all levels from scientists who study the potential of sustainable crop production, to the practit...
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Orange-flesh sweet potato the solution to Vitamin A deficiency

A number of African countries have launched campaigns to increase consumption of orange-flesh sweet potatoes in order to combat malnutrition.
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Orange fleshed sweet potato and lessons for a Code Red crop crisis

Orange fleshed sweet potato and lessons for a Code Red crop crisisAccelerated crop breeding is needed to tackle spreading plant disease and drought that threatens many African food staples Being a ...
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Orange-Fleshed SweetPotato: Improving Lives in Malawi

Mabvuto Mndau is a 41-year old entrepreneur from Malawi with a passion for agricultural production. He is a multiplier of planting material of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) varieties along the...
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ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO CHAMPION TAKES GOSPEL TO CHURCH

On a slow Saturday morning, most would want to sleep away the exhaustion of the week but the ground is set for Christ is the Answer Ministries(CITAM) family sports day in Buruburu, Nairobi Kenya. F...
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Orange-fleshed sweetpotato experience highlighted at 3rd International Conference on Global Food Security in Cape Town, South Africa

 Written by Dr. Jan LowOne of the Global Challenges being addressed at the 3rd International Conference on Global Food Security, held 3rd -6th December, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa, was how sus...
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Empowering women in Rwanda through Orange-fleshed sweetpotato farming

By Donata KiizaAs a housewife, Francine was always dissatisfied with her worth. She always dreamed of doing more than she was doing at home and becoming an active member of her community.  “I felt ...
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Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) Industry Forum in Malawi

Africa’s food systems and industry are changing rapidly to meet the demands of a growing and dynamic population. Sweetpotato is a big part of this story. Grown by over 50 million farmers, it is one...
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Orange-fleshed sweetpotato in school meals to improve nutrition and income in Nigeria

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato in school meals to improve nutrition and income in Nigeria - International Potato Center The inclusion of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) in wheat bread and school m...
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Orange-fleshed sweetpotato in school meals improves nutrition in Nigeria

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato in school meals improves nutrition in NigeriaThe inclusion of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) in wheat bread and school meals has led to the boost of the nutritional st...
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An Orange light has gone dim: West Africa's OFSP advocate & Former U.N Secretary-General has gone to rest

On the 18th day of August 2018, we awoke to the sad news. Kofi Annan, an advocate of the OFSP in West Africa is no more. He was eighty years old.[caption id="attachment_128752" align="alignleft" wi...
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ORANGE: Sweetpotato innovation platform (SIP) review new healthy gold benefit for Ghana

ORANGE: Sweet potato innovation platform (SIP) review new healthy gold benefit for GhanaOrange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) is gaining popularity in the world market because of its nutritional val...
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Overview of quality control

Provides a draft overview of quality control in sweetpotato seed practices Explains objectives and structure of FAO technical guidelines for Quality Declared Planting Material.
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International Phytosanitary Conference

The 2016 International Phytosanitary Conference was held at the KEPHIS headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya between 12 and 16 September 2016. The week long international conference attracted over 100 del...
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PROMOTING INNOVATION: CIP SHOWS RWANDAN FARMERS TOOLS FOR BETTER HARVESTS

Rwanda has made good progress on improving its agricultural production in recent years, and the International Potato Center (CIP) has contributed to this through its promotion of orange-fleshed swe...
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Q&A with Antonio Magnaghi on innovating OFSP products and equipment

Antonio Magnaghi is the proprietor of Euro Ingredients Limited. He is a gastronomist and food application process technologist who helps develop innovative orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) product...
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Q&A with Kirimi Sindi

Q&A with Kirimi Sindi - International Potato Center
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REMEMBERING H.E. KOFI : INTERNATIONAL STATESMAN AND CHAMPION OF THE POOR

The International Potato Center’s (CIP) management and staff were saddened by the news that H.E. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away las...
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Report of on-line discussion on: “challenges and solution to scale-up OFSP PUREE FOR BREADMAKING”

SPHI COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE- MARKETING, PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION Presented By:  Ganiyat OLATUNDE Department of Food Science & TechnologyFederal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, O...
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Research center unveils new sweet potato varieties for Africa

Research center unveils new sweet potato varieties in Africa NAIROBI (Xinhua)
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2017 MLE CoP Meeting focuses on harmonizing tools for reporting results

With the recent global recognition of CIP’s work in biofortification through the award of World Food Prize has come questions about the evidence of the success that informed the award. This evidenc...
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Rwanda: Experts call for expansion of sweetpotatoes growing

There is still need for scientific research into sweet potatoe varieties as part of efforts to reduce malnutrition and increase incomes among households.
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Seed Systems Community of Practice (CoP) holds consultation meeting in Kigali

The Sweetpotato Seed Systems Community of Practice (CoP) third consultation meeting was held on April 28 – 29 2015 in Kigali, Rwanda.The theme of the Rwanda hosts the third Sweetpotato Seed Systems...
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Rwanda is announced as the official host of the 11th Triennial African Potato Association Conference

 On 11 October 2016, the APA Council, led by outgoing president, Dr. Endale Gebre, announced that Rwanda would host the next Triennial African Potato Association Conference. APA members voted ...
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Rwanda rural communities improving nutrition uptake with rich Vitamin A sweetpotatoes

The art of choosing and preparing food varies from one community to another. Most of the food choices that communities make are dependent on the availability of home grown food crops. The food choi...
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Rwanda’s Paramilitary Activities to Boost Socio-economic Standards through the Army Week Concept

  Kigali, 4 July 2017 Rwandans across the country and in the Diaspora celebrated the 23rd anniversary of the Liberation Day, remembering the time when the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was...
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SARI & PARTNERS RELEASE 3 NEW COLOURFUL SWEETPOTATO VARIETIES IN GHANA.

On 2nd May 2018, The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR — SARI) in Ghana in collaboration with the International Potato Centre (CIP) has re...
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SASHA Annual Reports

SASHA Year 1 Annual ReportSASHA Year 1 Supplementary AppendicesSASHA YEAR 2 Annual Report Main Technical ReportSASHA Year 2 Supplementary AppendicesSASHA YEAR 2 Midterm ReportSASHA Year 3 Annual Re...
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SASHA Briefs

SASHA is a initiative designed to improve the food security and livelihoods of poor families in Sub-Saharan Africa by exploiting the untapped potential of sweetpotato. The initiative has developed ...
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SASHA Reports - Executive Summaries

Annual Progress Report, 2017 - This has been an incredible year of recognition and celebration of the progress made in biofortification, and for vitamin A-rich orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) in ...
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Scaling-up utilization of the orange-fleshed sweetpotato: Practitioners discuss how to overcome the obstacles

In spite of the proven positive economic and nutritional attributes of the orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) in sub-Saharan Africa, its uptake in industrial scale food production still remains low.
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School Feeding Program to Boost Student Health

[caption id="attachment_121265" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Pupils enjoying OFSP roots, Photo: C Namara[/caption]  At 12:45 pm on Tuesday 25th June 2017 at Groupe Scolaire Muramba, staff and ...
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Scientific Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato Award – Best Sweetpotato Scientific Paper – 2019 Edition

Through a generous endowment established by Dr. Jan W. Low, every year the Best Sweetpotato Scientific Paper published during the year before will receive an award consisting of US$500, which will ...
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Scientific Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato Award – Best Sweetpotato Scientific Paper – 2017 edition

Through a generous endowment established by Dr. Jan W. Low, every year the best sweetpotato scientific paper published during the year before will receive an award consisting of US$500, which will ...
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Scientific Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato Award – Best Sweetpotato Scientific Paper – 2018 Edition

Scientific Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato Award - Best Sweetpotato Scientific Paper - 2018 Edition - Sweetpotato Knowledge PortalThrough a generous endowment established by Dr. Jan W. Low...
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Scientists Push For Sweetpotato Laws

Scientists push for sweet potato laws Wednesday July 5 2017 Scientists are pushing countries across sub-Saharan Africa to harmonise standards for sweet potato seed production, which they say is ...
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Securing retirement through orange-fleshed sweetpotato farming: A living story of Evaste Nyiramugisha

Evaste Nyiramugisha has defied the odds and taken advantage of her terrain to earn a living and provide for her extended family. Nyiramugisha hails from the mountainous region of the Northern Rwan...
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Seed system needed for raising sweet potato yields

Seed system needed for raising sweet potato yields By Esther Nakkazi [KAMPALA] African countries need to standardise sweet potato's seed systems to help farmers gain maximum yields and incomes f...
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Seed - The starting block for improved food security, nutrition well-being and livelihoods in sub Saharan Africa

In April 2015, 40 sweetpotato specialists travelled from all corners of Africa to Kigali, Rwanda to tackle the issues around farmers’ seed constraints.
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Sweetpotato Early Generation Seed business: Understanding farmer demand

This post was originally published on seedsystem.org on February 20th, 2018. The sustainable production of Early Generation Seed (which includes pre-basic/foundation seed and basic seed) is one bot...
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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 In...
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SETSAN helps to spread the sweet that brings health in Mozambique

In September 2016, Mecula and Metarica districts displayed orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) roots at the Niassa Province Nutrition Gala held in Lichinga. During the gala, the governor recommended ...
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Discussion 1/2016 - Should we continue to consider sweet potato as a crop for food security and a mainstream staple or should we focus on it as a nutrition crop?

What really sparked this thought process for me was a study of FAOSTAT data for Uganda, which used to have the greatest production of sweetpotato in Africa. It showed that, over the last 20 yrs (to...
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Showcasing innovative ways to have your Orange-fleshed sweetpotato

The International Potato Center (CIP) hosted a sweetpotato awareness week at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya from 13 – 17 February 2017. The aim...
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SMALLHOLDERS ACCESS THE SWEETPOTATO SNACK MARKET

An agri-processing company in Tanzania producing nutritional, sweet potato-based foods is providing a ready market for local women and young farmers.
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Socios para un proyecto FONTAGRO

A todos los invstigadores y extensionistas vinculados a la batata o camote de países dentro de la Red FONTAGRO: Soy Héctor Martí, investigador en camote del INTA de Argentina. Les escribo para invi...
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CSPro Software set to improve the efficiency of household survey research data in Sub-Saharan Africa

NAIROBI, KENYA, May 6, 2015 – A regional training on the Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro), taking place in Nairobi between May 4 and May 14, 2015 is expected to improve the efficiency of...
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Solomon Afuape: “The regional support platform has made me a better sweetpotato breeder”

“I did not find sweetpotato, sweetpotato found me,” says Solomon Afuape, the Head of Sweetpotato Breeding Program at the National Roots Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), located in Umudike, Southea...
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It Sounded Like a Crazy, Impossible Idea: Sweet Potato Spaghetti

Regis Umugiraneza, a recent graduate in Agribusiness from the University of Rwanda, with his love for sweet potatoes and having grown up in an area where it grows locally, was frustrated with how p...
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SPHI 2017 Contests Status

The 8th annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) meeting that brings together a variety of projects+ is almost here with us. The meeting will be held from 24th through to 27th Sep...
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The SPHI 2017 Photo Contest Winners

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ldeAhsKRQY&feature=youtu.be This year, SPHI's Photo Contest had a total submission of 79 eligible photographs. A select judging panel were tasked with coming up ...
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SPHI and SASHA launch in Namulonge, Uganda

Major launch event of the ten year Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) and the five year Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA) project held at the Natural Cro...
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SPHI Photo Contest 2017

Entrants must be associated with a project aligned to the Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) A message to all amateur and professional photographers - here’s another chance to tea...
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SPHI Photo Contest 2018

 [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ldeAhsKRQY&feature=youtu.be[/embed]Entrants must be associated with a project aligned to the Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) or a G...
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2016 SPHI Photo Contest: Through the Lens of a Camera

Entrants must be associated with a project aligned to the Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI) A message to all amateur and professional photographers - here’s another chance to tear...
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The SPHI Seed Systems and Crop Management Community of Practice in Kigali, Rwanda

The SPHI Seed Systems and Crop Management Community of Practice held its 9th consultation meeting on 15-17 May 2018, at the Hotel Villa Portofino Kigali, Rwanda. The theme of the meeting was “Engag...
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Statistics for Breeders Training: Kumasi, Ghana

In January 2018, 14 participants attended a ten day training on statistics for breeders in Kumasi, Ghana conducted by the leader of the Global sweetpotato breeding program for the International Pot...
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Sweetpotato Yogurt in Ghana

Sweetpot yogurt is a flagship brand that produces delicious yogurt enriched with highly nutritious Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Sweetpotato yogurt is naturally flavored and supplemented with ...
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Support scientists to make sweetpotato serve our health needs

Sweetpotato ranks as the seventh most important food crop in the world. In East Africa, it is the third most important food crop. However, despite the crop being a nutritious major staple crop thr...
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Supporting Government’s “Farmer Promoter” program to scale up Sweetpotato farming experience.

Aime Ndayisenga & Immaculate AkelloTraining farmer promoters isn’t just a knowledge transfer; it is a concrete way of ensuring job creation, hence reducing the rate of unemployment in Rwanda. M...
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THE SWEET HARVEST OF A GIANT CROP—BEATING DROUGHT, WORMS IN MALAWI

The Sweet Harvest of a Giant Crop-Beating Drought, Worms in Malawi | Transforming Lives | Malawi | U.S. Agency for International DevelopmentJuly 2018 - Heavy clouds loom over the forest that border...
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Sweet potato farming lessons from Rwanda

To plant the crop, one prepares beds and plants the vines 30cm between plants by 80cm from one row to another. She uses organic farm yard manure to grow the tubers.
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Sweet Potato Lessons: The Case for Homegrown Solutions

International "We have made significant progress," says Dr. Mwanga, who speaks of "unleashing the potential" of the orange sweet potato across the continent. "The number of people consuming it i...
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Sweetpotato: New Opportunities for the Next Generation

Sweet Potato: New Opportunities for the Next GenerationThe sweet potato crop is of high economic importance due to its short cycle (3-4 months) with the possibility of multiple planting cycles in a...
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How sweet potato tastes is important to breeding

Sweet potato breeders have been advised to put the tastes of the consumer first in order to increase its consumption.
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Sweet potato variety may ease third world vitamin A deficiency

Orange fleshed sweet potato is so rich in carotenoids and β-carotenes it could be used to ease vitamin A deficiency amongst malnourished populations in developing countries, a study says.
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An Orange-fleshed sweetpotato a day, keeps death’s door at bay

Sweet potatoes are the secret to a long life, says family of oldest person in the USFollowing the death of a 114-year-old woman from Pennsylvania named Delphine Gibson, 113-year-old Lessie Brown of...
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Sweetpotato Early Generation Seed business: Public-private partnerships

The sustainable production of Early Generation Seed (which includes pre-basic/foundation seed and basic seed) is one bottleneck to increasing the availability of new varieties for farmers. Under wh...
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SWEETPOTATO FLOUR OFFERS NEW PROSPECTS FOR AGRO-INDUSTRY

Processing sweet potato into flour has proven to be one of the means to diversify bakery products, prevent post-harvest losses and provide farmers with a ready market for their produce, players in ...
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Sweetpotato Seed Systems to Improve Nutrition in Northern Ethiopia

Dr. Beyene Demstu is a researcher in biotechnology, based at the Mekele Agricultural Research Institute, Tigray Region, Ethiopia.
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Sweetpotato SpeedBreeders and Genomics CoP visits Rubona Research Station

On the morning of 17 May 2017, two buses departed from Grand Legacy Hotel, the venue of this year’s SpeedBreeders and Genomics Community of Practice (CoP). The 39 participants were on a field trip ...
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A new video teaches farmers how to make and store sweetpotato silage for their dairy animals

9 June 2017, Nairobi – The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has launched an instructional video that teaches dairy farmers how to make sweetpotato vine silage. The video titled ‘Sw...
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18th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops meeting

Sweetpotato was well represented at the 18th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops meeting held at CIAT in Cali, Colombia, the 22nd through 25th October 2018.  Ov...
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The Synonym for OFSP in Northern Uganda is Kwiki-riza-lts

When I was young, I did not imagine that my name was so “botanical” until when I went to Makerere University and met people of other races.  Uganda has 42 indigenous languages! The name Kwikiriza [...
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CIP wins Best Exhibitor in Value Addition with OFSP Products in Rwanda

The 13th National Agri-Show 2018 at Mulindi/ Gasabo show ground commenced on 26th June and ended on Tuesday 3rd July. The annual event is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resourc...
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The 6th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative meeting takes place in Kigali, Rwanda

Over 100 participants from 14 sub-Saharan countries, and other guests from Europe, Asia, Northern America, and Latin America participated in the 6th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiat...
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The 7th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative meeting takes place in Ethiopia

The 7th Annual Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative (SPHI took place from 7-8 October 2016 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of this year’s meeting was ‘Celebrating the 2016 World Food Prize...
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THE CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CRI) OF THE COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH (CSIR) GHANA ANNOUNCES AN MPHIL PLANT BREEDING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Board to run post-graduate degree programmes with a more practical orientatio...
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The Delegation of EU Ambassador visits SUSTAIN Rwanda, sweetpotato activities in Rulindo and Gakenke districts

On 30th of November 2015, CIP-Rwanda organized a trip for three guests from the Delegation of European Union to visit the International Potato Center’s (CIP) Scaling up Sweetpotato through Agricult...
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The fourth consultation of the Sweetpotato Seed System Community of Practice (CoP) takes place in Nairobi

[caption id="attachment_10029" align="alignright" width="600"] Seed Systems CoP members pose for a group photograph[/caption]The fourth consultation of the Sweetpotato Seed System Community of Prac...
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The Independent Science Partnership Council holds a joint MLE and Impact Assessment Meeting in Rome

The Independent Science Partnership Council (ISPC) of CGIAR held a Monitoring Evaluation, Learning, and Impact Assessment (MELIA) meeting last week (November 5-7, 2018) at the Food and Agriculture ...
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The Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Community of Practice holds annual meeting

[caption id="attachment_11813" align="alignright" width="276"] MLE CoP participants pose for a group photograph[/caption]Members of the Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation Community of Practice (ML...
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The Reaching Agents of Change (RAC) Project releases new Video of their work

The Reaching Agents of Change (RAC) project (2011-2014) was a unique initiative that was implemented by the International Potato Center (CIP) and Helen Keller International (HKI), in partnership wi...
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The Reaching Agents of Change Training of Trainers (TOT) Courses – Photostory

For three years, hundreds of participants in Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana and Burkina Faso benefited from an annual Training of Trainers (ToT) course called ‘Everything You Ever Wanted to K...
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The SPHI 2018 Photo Contest Winners

This year, SPHI’s Photo Contest had a total submission of 76 eligible photographs. A select judging panel were tasked with coming up with 12 winners for the four categories, read more on the catego...
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The Sweetpotato Knowledge Portal is re-launched

The new-look Sweetpotato Knowledge Portal was launched on 15th February 2016, following about one year of redesign work.The Portal is the global meeting place for all things sweetpotato - where swe...
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The Sweetpotato Seed Systems Community of Practice holds third consultation

Sweetpotato seed system practitioners met in Kigali, Rwanda on April 28 – 29, 2015 to share experiences on sustainable production of quality sweetpotato planting material.
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The Thobwa la Zondeni Magic

We have known that sweet potatoes are mostly eaten by boiling the roots. This is however not for Michesi. Not only do they eat roots, leaves and other processed products but strikingly important is...
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First ToT Course on ‘Everything You need to Know about Sweetpotato’ in Ghana

This article was written by the Local Organizing Committee of the ToT Course and posted on their behalf by Damian Laryea The first ever 10-day Training of Trainers course titled ‘Everything you nee...
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Triple S Videos

Video 1: General video explaining Triple S for decision makers Farmers often obtain sweetpotato planting material from roots which have been overlooked during harvest and sprout when it rains. Howe...
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TRIPLE S METHOD HELPS SWEETPOTATO FARMERS PLANT AND HARVEST EARLIER

Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) is an impressive crop, able to grow on marginal lands and produce nutritious roots within three months from planting. However, farmers plant vine cuttings rather t...
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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 R...
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Unsweetpotato: Ernest Baafi talks of breeding for less sweetness and high dry matter in Ghana

Ernest Baafi is a Research Scientist at the Crops Research Institute for Council of Scientific and Crop Research in Kumasi, Ghana. He is also a member of the Sweetpotato SpeedBreeders and Genomics ...
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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...
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Improving Nutrition in Rwanda through a Community based Approach

By Donata KizzaMore than a quarter of the world's children under the age of 5 years suffer from undernutrition. This includes 155 million children who are stunted as a result of chronic undernutrit...
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Value Chain Approach: What the Malawi Team learned at the SPHI 2015 Annual Meeting

At the ‘I Love Sweetpotato’ exhibition at Hotel Villa Portofino, in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, Johannes Chikarate, who works for Concern Worldwide in Malawi, sits in his stall, patiently waiting for ...
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Visiting scientist develops sweet potato-enriched bread

Visiting scientist develops sweet potato-enriched breadYou won't find sweet potatoes growing in South Dakota fields, but sweet potato-fortified bread developed at South Dakota State University migh...
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Watch the 2016 World Food Prize and follow the news coverage

Four CGIAR scientists, Dr. Howarth Bouis (HarvestPlus), Dr. Jan Low (CIP), Maria Andrade (CIP), and Robert Mwanga (CIP) were awarded the World Food Prize on 13 October 2016 among an international a...
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Western Kenya to mark World Food Day

One of CIP SSA’s sweetpotato projects was a key player in support of recent events held in Western Kenya to mark World Food Day.
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What seed marketing strategies work?

[caption id="attachment_12359" align="alignleft" width="386"] Seed Systems and Crop Management CoP Meeting participants pose for a group photograph[/caption]This question, which is particularly cri...
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Why orange fleshed sweetpotato is the crop to grow in Western Kenya

Why orange fleshed sweetpotato is the crop to grow in Western Kenya
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Workshop at the CSIR-CRI Ghana seeks to improve use of breeding tools

On May 24 to 27, 2016, sweetpotato breeders from CIP, CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) and CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute in Ghana participated in a 3 day workshop at CSIR-CRI...
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2018 World Food Prize recognises advances in nutrition

“One in three people on this planet are denied a say in shaping their destiny, because they are malnourished,” said Lawrence Haddad in his acceptance speech of the prestigious 2018 World Food Prize...
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World Food Prize Laureate Maria Andrade talks about her passion for sweetpotato breeding

Dr. Maria Andrade was on Tuesday, 28 June announced as one of the four 2016 World Food Prize Laureates during a ceremony at the U.S. State Department. In this audio slideshow, Andrade shares her pa...
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Youth and gender inclusion theme takes center stage at the Marketing, Processing and Utilization Community of Practice annual meeting

The Marketing, Processing and Utilization Community of Practice held its annual meeting from 14th to 16th March  2016 at the Kunduchi Beach Hotel and Resort, Dar es Salaam. The theme of the meeting...
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YOUTH MINES ‘ORANGE GOLD’ IN RWANDA

Paola Giriwanyu is a 22 year old fresh graduate with an agribusiness degree from the University of Rwanda.As a young girl, Paola grew up in Kigali city and was not exposed to farming as a food prod...
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