Farmers doing a pairwise comparison of the various varieties. Bukombe district, Tanzania. (Credit: K.

Ogero/CIP)

A farmer-participatory approach to boost adoption

of new varieties
Demonstration trials used to compare farmer-preferred sweetpotato cultivars
with improved varieties in Bukombe and Geita Districts, Tanzania
As agricultural researchers and extension officers promote farmer adoption of improved
varieties, many continue to grow traditional landraces. Demonstration trials highlight the
value of using farmer-preferred varieties as benchmarks for new varieties.

Background then conducted demonstration trials with farmers to

Several improved sweetpotato varieties have been
released in Tanzania, but the majority of country’s
farmers continue to grow local landraces, even though
they are often less productive, robust or nutritious. This
is partly attributed to researchers’ limited understanding
of farmer and consumer preferences. It has been noted
that researchers ought to consider existing varieties as
benchmarks for improved varieties, but also incorporate
additional attributes.In this study, researchers with the
International Potato Center (CIP) identified improved
varieties that could potentially replace local farmer-
preferred varieties in Bukombe and Geita districts, and
compare the performance of these “best fit” varieties
with the current farmer-preferred varieties.
Approach
In Bukombe district, the market-preferred varieties were
identified through a seed systems rapid assessment.
In sex-disaggregated focus group discussions, farmers
were asked to list their top three varieties. They were
then asked to list the characteristics they liked in those
varieties. Based on these characteristics, potential best
fit improved varieties were identified in the national
catalogue of released varieties.
The improved variety NASPOT 12 was identified as a 4.5 m x5 m. Six sweetpotato varieties were planted
best fit for the local landrace Ukimwi, whereas UKG05 on each demo plot in a randomized complete block
was identified as a best fit for Pisitatu. In Geita District design replicated three times. In Bukombe district,
Council, Rangimbili variety was identified as the market- four improved varieties (Polista, Ukerewe, UKG05 and
preferred variety following discussions with farmers, Kabode) were compared with two farmer preferred
traders and extension officers. Polista was identified varieties (Ukimwi and Pisitatu) while in Geita district,
as potential best fit for this variety. Among the traits the four improved varieties were compared with a
farmers and consumers consider in variety selection are local market-preferred variety known as Rangimbili.
high root yield, high dry matter content, short maturity, The demonstration plots were farmer managed with
tolerance of diseases and pests, and good taste. supervision from the village extension staff and
Demonstration trials were conducted in two phases. researchers from the Tanzania Agricultural Research
The first were conducted from November 2020 to Institute (TARI) - Ukiriguru center.
March 2021 in three villages in Bukombe district. During
this phase, the market-preferred varieties Pisitatu and Outcomes
Ukimwi were compared with their best fits Kabode
and NASPOT 12 respectively. The demo plots were laid Results from phase one:
out in a randomized complete block design with three NASPOT 12 was the best performing variety in
replications. A total of 80 plants of each variety were the first phase demos (Fig. 1). Second was Pisitatu
planted on plots measuring 4.5 m X 5 m. Data collected variety, followed by Ukimwi and Kabode respectively.
at harvest included total root yield, yield of marketable The highest yields for all the four varieties were
roots, yield of non-marketable roots, flesh color, skin documented in Mji Mwema village while the lowest
color and vine yield. Sensory tasting was also done were in Namalandula village, demonstrating the effect
to determine consumers perceptions of dry matter of agroecology on performance. Although the two
content and sweetness. The demos were managed by villages are in the same ward, Mji Mwema is regarded
seed producers with assistance from district extension as the leader in sweetpotato production. In addition,
officers. NASPOT 12 scored the highest in appearance and taste
The phase 2 demonstration trials were done in two while Pisitatu scored the highest on dry matter and
districts: Bukombe and Geita, during the following sugar content (Table 1). Through a pairwise comparison,
season, November 2021 – March 2022. The goal of farmers ranked NASPOT 12 first because of good taste
the demonstration plots was to compare root yields and good appearance. Despite the good performance
between best fit varieties and market-preferred of NASPOT 12, it was dropped because it had not yet
varieties. Four demo plots were established in Namonge been released in Tanzania. Alternative best fits, UKG05
ward, Bukombe district, while four were established in and Ukerewe, were identified and used in the second
Bukoli ward, Geita district. Each demo plot measured phase of demos.

45

40

35

30
Root yield t/ha

25

20

15

10

0
Kabode

NASPOT 12

Pisitatu

Ukimwi

Kabode

NASPOT 12

Pisitatu

Ukimwi

Kabode

NASPOT 12

Pisitatu

Ukimwi

Kabode

NASPOT 12

Pisitatu

Ukimwi

Genotypes and Location

Figure. 1. Performance of market preferred varieties and “best fits” across four demonstration plots, November
2020-March 2021, Bukombe, Tanzania.
Table. 1. Scoring of the varieties based on sensory evaluation.

Variety Appearance (%) Taste (%) Dry matter (%) fibrous (%) Sugar content (%)

Very Very Very Very Very

Good Bad Good Bad Good Bad Good Bad Good Bad
good good good good good

Kabode 60 40 0 26.6 66.7 6.7 33.3 60 6.7 100 0 0 0 100 0

NASPOT12 80 20 0 100 0 0 46.7 53.3 0 100 0 0 0 93.3 6.7

Pisitatu 33.3 60 6.7 66.7 26.7 6.7 100 0 0 100 0 0 60 40 0

Ukimwi 60 40 0 60 40 0 80 13.3 6.7 100 0 0 40 50 0

Results from phase two:

Current market-preferred varieties performed well in both Bukombe and Geita districts. In Bukoli ward, Geita district
council, the local farmer-preferred variety, Rangimbili, was the best performer, followed by the improved variety
UKG05 (Fig. 2). In Bukombe district, Pisitatu, also a local market-preferred variety, had the highest root yield. Ukerewe
and UKG05 had the highest yields among the improved varieties.

40

35

30

25
Root yield t/ha

20

15

10

0
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Ukimwi
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Ukimwi
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Ukimwi
Kabode
Polista
Rangimbili
Ukerewe
UkGO5
Ukimwi

Bugogo I Bugogo II Ikina Ntono I Namalandula I Namalandula II Namonge Mji mwema

Bukoli Bukombe

Site and variety

Figure. 2. Performance of market-preferred varieties and “best fits” in Bukombe and Geita (Bukoli ward) districts in the
season of November 2021 – March 2022.
Conclusions
Farmers are knowledgeable of the local criteria for
selecting varieties, hence it is important to actively
engage them in the breeding processes. The current
market-preferred varieties should be used as
benchmarks for introduction of new varieties. A new
variety should have all the good characteristics of the
current market-preferred variety and an additional trait
to make it attractive. Based on the results from the first
phase of demos, Pisitatu and Ukimwi varieties were sent
to the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS)
for virus cleaning. The virus-free vines were sent back
to TARI and multiplied using sandponics in November
2022. Commercial seed producers are expected to get
access to this material by April 2023. In addition, the two
varieties were included in breeding trials for evaluation
to collect data that will be used for official release.
Rangimbili, which is the market-preferred variety in
Bukoli ward, Geita district, will also be sent to KEPHIS for
virus cleaning and should be included in the breeding
pipeline.
The evaluation of NASPOT 12 should be fast-tracked so
that it can be officially released in Tanzania and made
available to farmers, especially in Bukombe district.
UKG05 and Ukerewe should also be promoted to
increase the portfolio of sweetpotato products available
to farmers.
The approach used in this study could be used
to fast track dissemination of improved varieties.
Starting with an evaluation of the market-demanded
characteristics can help ensure that any variety that
is made available to farmers has the preferred traits
that local people want. Conducting such demos with
a farmer participatory approach can help avoid blind
dissemination of new varieties that can lead to rejection
and help ensure that the varieties that get released
meet local market demands.

Contacts
Hadija Ally, TARI-Tanzania • musahadya@gmail.com/ hadija.ally@tari.co.tz
Kwame Ogero, CIP-Tanzania • K.Ogero@cgiar.org

CIP thanks all donors and organizations that globally support its work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. https://www.cgiar.org/
funders/. As well the support by Bill and Melinda Foundation for the support extended to CIP to implement SweetGains work with public (NARO) and
private sector partners.
© 2023. This publication is copyrighted by the International Potato Center (CIP). It is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License