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Factors Influencing Diversity of Farmers’ Varieties of Sweet Potato in Uganda: Implications for Conservation

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Factors Influencing Diversity of Farmers’ Varieties of Sweet Potato in Uganda: Implications for Conservation. There is increasing concern that agricultural intensification is causing loss of crop biodiversity due to displacement of traditional farmers’ varieties by a small number of improved cultivars. Using ethnobotanical surveys, we assessed the implication of adoption of new sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivars on the maintenance of farmers’ varieties in Uganda. Other factors influencing varietal diversity were also assessed. A total of 102 farmer households distributed in the top three sweet potato production agro-ecological zones were interviewed. With the exception of released cultivars, very few varieties appeared in more than one region. The majority of the respondents indicated that they continue to plant some of the existing varieties when they adopt new cultivars. Loss of planting materials due to drought was a major constraint to maintaining varietal diversity for this vegetatively propagated crop. Limited land and lack of access to best management practices were also key constraints to maintenance of farmers’ varieties. The primary criteria for adopting new cultivars were higher yield, taste, and duration to maturity. Yield stability, tolerance to native biotic and abiotic stresses, and good taste were important for maintenance of currently grown varieties. Overall, criteria for variety selection varied with household characteristics including farmer age and gender, uses of the crop, micro-climatic conditions in the farmers’ fields, and level of access to agricultural extension. The observed heterogeneity in selection criteria, influence of social ties, and the role of environment in varietal maintenance have important implications for establishing breeding priorities and preservation of crop diversity.

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Acknowledgments

This research was in part supported by the Norman E. Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture Program (LEAP). We are very grateful to the staff of the Uganda National Sweetpotato Program, and the district agricultural extension service for the districts that we visited, who provided technical advice on the survey methodology. Our sincere thanks the farmers who participated in the research. We also thank Drs. Russell Freed, Jim Kelly (Michigan State University), and Hector Quemada (Danforth Foundation) for their valuable feedback and suggestions.

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  1. Barbara M. Zawedde

    Present address: Uganda Biosciences Information Center (UBIC), National Crop Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, 9 km Gayaza-Zirobwe Road, Uganda

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology, and Department of Horticulture, Plant and Soil Science Building, Michigan State University, 1066 Bogue Street, East Lansing, 48824, USA

    Barbara M. Zawedde, Jim Hancock & Rebecca Grumet

  2. Department of Sociology, Berkey Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, USA

    Craig Harris

  3. National Sweetpotato Program, National Crop Resources Research Institute, Namulonge, Gayaza-Zirobwe Road, Uganda

    Agnes Alajo

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  1. Barbara M. Zawedde
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Correspondence to Rebecca Grumet.

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Zawedde, B.M., Harris, C., Alajo, A. et al. Factors Influencing Diversity of Farmers’ Varieties of Sweet Potato in Uganda: Implications for Conservation. Econ Bot 68, 337–349 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-014-9278-3

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