Title:
DIAGNOSTIC OF THE CURRENT LIVELIHOOD EVOLUTION, FARMING
PRACTICES, PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS, POST-HARVEST PROCESSING,
TRADING AND VALUE-CHAIN SYSTEMS OF SWEETPOTATO IN NORTH-KIVU
PROVINCE, EASTERN OF DRCONGO |
Authors:
Théodore MUNYULI , Justin OMBENI
, Bienfait BASHI MUSHAGALUSA
, Arcadius KUBUYA
, Alain
IRENGE
and Gentil KIWAF HERADI ,DR Congo
|
Abstract:
Although in many countries of Sub-Sahara Africa, sweet potato has been found to be very
important for food security for farmers who depended on it for their livelihood, little
documentation on the production constraints, preferences for sweetpotato genotypes by farmers,
pre- and post-harvest handling and value chain issues were available for North-Kivu province.
Hence, a survey assessment was conducted (March-December 2021) in major sweetpotato
growing territories in North-Kivu province. Data was collected through field visits, semistructured interviews, focus group discussions and field observations after structured
questionnaire have been administered to farmers. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze
the data. The results indicated that sweetpotato is grown by rural households for food and cash,
and women play a major role in cultivating the crop. The crop was cultivated on small plots,
mainly in upland areas, during the rainy season and sometimes in valley bottoms during dry
season. Most farmers provide their own planting materials or obtained vines free from
neighbours. Vines were usually planted on mounds. Ridges were used in highland areas in lieu of
mounds as a way to control soil erosion/land slide impacts. Sweetpotato is commonly solecropped, although it is occasionally intercropped with beans, maize, banana, and other crops.
Key attributes for maintenance of varieties were access to healthy planting material availability
and distribution, tolerance abiotic stresses, resistance to biotic stresses, good taste and high root
yield , early maturity, cookability, low perishability during storage. Piecemeal harvesting was
common except when larger quantities are harvested for sale. During the harvest period, people
consume sweetpotatoes every day and sometimes for every meal. Peeling & boiling or steaming
is the most common method of preparation. Pests and diseases were reported to be associated
with severe and high yield loss although incidence of pests and diseases were of high seasonal
variations. The overall identified factors constraining productivity included shortage of land and
planting materials, landrace low yield, some variety high sensitivity to weeds, diseases and
insect pests aggressions, inaccessibility to financial credits. Post-harvest and value chain
constraints included: high labour and transport costs, poor access to markets & low market
prices, inaccessibility to improved varieties, a lack of knowledge on processing and equipment,
packaging, marketing and transportation problems, inadequate extension services and
postharvest losses. Farmers indicated that flood and landslide/soil erosion were serious ... |
