Building a sustainable sweetpotato seed system in Malawi: Experiences from the "Rooting out hunger in Malawi" project.

The project “Rooting out Hunger in Malawi with Nutritious Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP)” was launched in October 2009 for the benefit of women and children in the country. This 4.5-year effort targets 115,000 households to improve vitamin A and energy intake using improved sweetpotato varieties. It also seeks to boost yields by 50% and improve incomes by 20%. The project aligns with the Agriculture Sector Wide Approach to food and nutrition security and crop diversification. With Irish Aid support, CIP initially worked in partnership with government agencies and three NGOs as implementing partners (IPs) and targeted 4 districts. The project established a “1-2-3” seed multiplication system, with clean planting material produced at a primary multiplication site, and decentralized vine multiplication sites (DVMs) doing multiplication at the community level. DVMs run by individuals or groups of farmers with access to irrigation were established by the IPs and supervised by district Extension staff. Mutiplication at the DVMs was termed secondary (vine production using rapid multiplication) or tertiary (production of both roots and vines, particularly during the hungry season). A subsidized voucher system was used by partners to allow at-risk households to purchase sweetpotato planting material from DVMs. Promotion and awareness campaigns were conducted in each district to stimulate demand for OFSP. By February 2012, the project had reached 36,403 households in 5 districts with subsidized vouchers, and an additional 19,331 beneficiaries through non-voucher sales. Seven IPs in 14 districts partnered in the effort. Lessons learned and sustainability of the system will be discussed

Effect of uptake of improved seed potato and donor-funded training on smallholder farmers’ market participation

Enhancing the productivity of crops through the adoption and uptake of technologies improves farmers' socio-economic status through increased market participation. However, smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) face a myriad of challenges that make it difficult for them to access and participate in the output markets. Like most SSA countries, the uptake of improved technologies is still low in Malawi. This paper examines the relationship between uptake of improved potato seed and donor-funded training on market participation. Using secondary data from 393 potato farmers in Malawi, the study applied a triple-hurdle model to examine the extent to which such interventions and other socio-economic and institutional factors influence market participation. The results showed that male-headed farm households, more experienced farmers, and those who participated in CIP-led training were likely to market their potato output. Further, farmers closer to urban centers, those with off-farm income, those who had participated in potato training, use of improved potato seed and quantity of output positively influenced the decision to sell in high-value markets such as supermarkets. On the other hand, land size, ownership of transport equipment, group membership, and access to credit had positive effects on the amount of potato sold while distance to the markets reduced the quantity sold. Based on these findings, there is a need to set up a seed system within the local communities where farmers can easily access the seeds. Additionally, there is a need for a collaborative effort between public and private sector stakeholders to invest in the production of improved potato seeds that would help to address the shortfall in supply. Finally, institutional support interventions that utilize farmer groups as a key entry point in sustaining training on improved potato seed, relaxing credit constraints and promoting diversification into off-farm enterprises would enhance potato production and marketing

On-farm evaluation of potato genotypes for yield and late blight resistance in Malawi.

Potato production in Malawi is characterized by low yields with poor quality tubers. To some extent this has been attributed to use of low yielding varieties and poor quality seed tubers. In attempt to address the situation there is a potato variety development program whose overlying objective is to identify high yielding varieties, tolerant to major diseases and insect pests that are also adaptable to local environmental conditions. During the 2012-13 rain fed season, potato clones introduced from breeding programs from International Potato Center (CIP)-Peru, CIP-Kenya and Scotland were evaluated in a uniform yield trial (UYT) for yield and resistance to Late Blight. Two sets of on-farm trials were implemented at Mpalare (Dedza District) and Tsangano (Ntcheu District). The experimental trials were arranged in RCBD with three replications. All the recommended crop management practices were followed in addition to spraying Dithane M45 against Late Blight. Data was collected following the CIP laid procedures. Results from the first set of trials implemented at both sites, showed significant yield difference (P35mm diameter. These results confirm the superiority of these clones and suggest their high potential to be released as varieties upon undergoing further multi-location evaluation as well as passing through the variety release committee of Malawi

Effects of soil amendments on bacterial wilt incidences and potato tuber yield across different environments in Malawi

This study investigated the effects of soil amendment on potato yield and incidences of bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum that can cause up to 80% yield loss in potato. The research was conducted at four research stations in Malawi during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 growing seasons, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments: lime, four Calciprill rates (CALC25%, CALC50%, CALC100%, and CALC150%), and NPK fertilizer (control). Data on soil properties, bacterial wilt incidence, and potato tuber yield were collected and analyzed using R programming. Soil fertility was found to be low, with a pH range of 4.4–6.05. Control resulted to significantly higher incidences of bacterial wilt at Kandiyani during 2020/21 (63.6%) and 2021/22 (34.6%) and at Lunyangwa during 2021/22 (20.4%) while lime and all levels of Calciprill led to relative incidence reduction (4%–89%) across sites and season, except CALC25% at Bembeke. Marketable yield showed interaction between amendments and season at Bvumbwe (p = 0.04), highest being 10.02 tha−1 in CALC150% during 2020/21 while non-marketable yield showed interaction at Lunyangwa (p = 0.02) highest being 3.9 tha−1 recorded in CALC150% during 2021/22. A significant negative correlation between bacterial wilt incidences and yield at all sites except Bembeke highlighted the importance of controlling bacterial wilt for yield improvement. The findings suggest that soil amendment through liming is an effective and sustainable approach for managing bacterial wilt and increasing potato yields. Further research on-farm conditions required to ensure the applicability of the findings for different sites

Incidence and distribution of Sweetpotato viruses and their implication on sweetpotato seed system in Malawi

A survey was carried out in 19 districts to investigate the prevalence and distribution of sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) and its implication on the sustainability of clean seed system in Malawi. A total of 166 leaf samples were collected and tested for the presence of 8 viruses using nitrocellulose membrane enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (NCM-ELISA). SPVD foliar symptoms were observed in 68.42% of the surveyed districts. There were significant variations in disease incidence and severity (p < 0.001) among districts, with the highest incidence in Mulanje (28.34%). Average SPVD severity score was 3.05. NCM-ELISA detected sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV, 30.54%), sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV, 31.14%), sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV, 16.17%), sweet potato C-6 virus (SPC6V, 13.77%), sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV, 22.16%), sweet potato collusive virus (SPCV, 30.54%), sweet potato virus G (SPVG, 11.38%), cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, 7.78%) either in single or mixed infections. Data from this study indicate a significant SPVD occurrence in the country, and the consequence implications towards national sweetpotato seed system