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• Transport is handled by private traders, who also engage <strong>in</strong> market<strong>in</strong>g and market<br />

<strong>in</strong>formation<br />

• NGOs like CREADIS, REFSO, ARDAP, and MAHUDE have been <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> coord<strong>in</strong>ation<br />

of activities and mobilisation of community groups, documentation of activities and<br />

outcomes, coord<strong>in</strong>ation of plant<strong>in</strong>g material multiplication and postharvest process<strong>in</strong>g<br />

• Representatives of groups handle their <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>novation platforms.<br />

Achievements. Many stakeholders are now <strong>in</strong>volved with sweet potato. There are over 2000<br />

varieties grown with different attributes and research work is still on go<strong>in</strong>g. The DONATA network<br />

has made an important contribution <strong>in</strong> plant<strong>in</strong>g material multiplication, tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g on production<br />

and utilisation, and promotion activities. About 880 farmers have directly participated <strong>in</strong> the<br />

multiplication and distribution of plant<strong>in</strong>g material and by the end of 2010; about 2660 end<br />

users had received plant<strong>in</strong>g material. The project has tra<strong>in</strong>ed 48 tra<strong>in</strong>ers on OFSP agronomy<br />

and v<strong>in</strong>e multiplication and 37 tra<strong>in</strong>ers on postharvest process<strong>in</strong>g. The tra<strong>in</strong>ed tra<strong>in</strong>ers later<br />

reached a total of 653 farmers (550 farmers on agronomy), postharvest process<strong>in</strong>g (71) and<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess skills (32). The project also tra<strong>in</strong>ed 24 MoA extension staff on bus<strong>in</strong>ess skills.<br />

One OFSP processor (Mukunya, 2011) <strong>in</strong>dicates that a market has f<strong>in</strong>ally been established and<br />

accord<strong>in</strong>g to one farmer representative (Agri-Hub Kenya, 2011) there are approximately 7000<br />

farm households <strong>in</strong> southern Nyanza produc<strong>in</strong>g local varieties, and will be will<strong>in</strong>g to produce<br />

if assured of market contracts. Farmers have been organised <strong>in</strong>to around 40 producer groups<br />

with umbrella market<strong>in</strong>g cooperatives. The area produces over 50 percent of the country’s<br />

sweet potatoes and is therefore a potential supplier for the emerg<strong>in</strong>g market.<br />

Achievements of the research and development efforts are acknowledged, yet the major<br />

reason for the development of the OFSP, the contribution of the β-carotene health attribute<br />

is still unknown. Many users of OFSP flour <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g homes that care for HIV/AIDS sufferers<br />

<strong>in</strong>dicate positive outcomes, although this is yet to be scientifically studied.<br />

Emerg<strong>in</strong>g or unresolved challenges. The demand for OFSP is now outstripp<strong>in</strong>g supply: “We<br />

have been sell<strong>in</strong>g OFSP flour for a few years now and all of a sudden farmers are not f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the varieties <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g enough (for their pockets) and just as the market looks ripe for growth,<br />

the tuber is nowhere to be found” (Mukunya, 2011). Commercialisation of the sweet potato<br />

is still <strong>in</strong> the <strong>in</strong>termediate phase, where the suppliers, traders and consumers have not yet<br />

established a stable value cha<strong>in</strong>, despite several <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>in</strong> the crop <strong>in</strong> the country.<br />

Attempts to develop varieties that are resistant to the potato weevil have not yet been<br />

successful. Mitigation of weevil damage <strong>in</strong>cludes use of short-season varieties and deeper<br />

storage of roots.<br />

Lessons learned. Production of the OFSP or other commodities grown by smallholders who<br />

are participat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> group <strong>in</strong>itiatives can be successful if there are contract markets to provide<br />

the stability for <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g production. It also requires support for breed<strong>in</strong>g, production and<br />

utilisation. Greater <strong>in</strong>volvement of nutrition research activities may have contributed even<br />

more to the ongo<strong>in</strong>g success.<br />

The case studies: Eastern Africa 31

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