The Viability and Potential of Smallholder Sweet Potato Enterprises as a Food Security Measure in Rural Communities of South Africa

The Agricultural Research Council in partnership with the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform are engaged in promoting the establishment of sustainable Sweet Potato Enterprise projects in South Africa. This study sought to investigate the viability of smallholder sweet potato enterprises for the South African rural communities. Formal market surveys and Gross margin analysis were utilised in addressing the research questions. Results of the study indicate that both the sweet potato vine nurseries and growers stand a significant chance to gain considerable amount of income from sweet potato enterprises. Sweet potato vines had a gross margin of between R219,000.00 and R226,000.00 while the sweet potatoes attracted an average gross margin of R47,000.00/ha. Coupled with the potential to create employment and provide access to the nutritious sweet potato cultivars, sweet potato enterprises can potentially improve food security among the rural poor in South Africa, indirectly extending benefits even to those who are not directly involved in production. This study recommends support of smallholder farmers through training and infrastructure development, as well as creation of awareness among rural people of the benefits of sweet potatoes.

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Food Security and Income through Sweet Potato Production in Teso, Uganda

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v7n1p146 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

William Faustine Epeju ◽

Peter Milton Rukundo

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Potato Production ◽

Grain Legumes ◽

Agricultural System ◽

Sweet Potatoes ◽

Sustainable Food ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽

Adequate Food

Two relevant studies on food security are referred to in the article. Food insecurity from time to time threatens in Teso sub region which houses a viable Teso agricultural system. One study was done during 2001-2003 in Teso on sweet potato production with 650 persons participating and the second one was done in one disaster affected area of Bududa District nearby during 2012-2016 when 1,142 persons participated. Kiryandongo District where Bududa landslide survivors were resettled in Uganda was included in that study. Participatory methods such as focus group discussions, farm observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires were used. Both studies used qualitative and quantitative methods for data analysis. The sweet potato stands second after cassava as the crop for famine and disaster periods in Teso to meet the human right to adequate food to complement the well dried cereals & grain legumes that stored longer. Livestock especially was also one of the prime determinants of food security and income in Teso. Free from cyanides with a good content of affordable Vitamin A from orange fleshed varieties, sweet potatoes in Teso contributed about 61% to the yearly food per capita of the population thus a recommendable crop for sustainable food security and some income in Teso and beyond.

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Diversification of Local Tubers through Optimization of Cocoa Farming in Supporting Sustainable Food Security

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/940/1/012089 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 940 (1) ◽

pp. 012089

Author(s):

H Pribadi ◽

S Jumiyati ◽

A Muis ◽

I K Widnyana ◽

J Mustabi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Food Security ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Crop Production ◽

Calorific Value ◽

Buffer Zone ◽

Production Costs ◽

World Population ◽

Sweet Potatoes ◽

Sustainable Food

Abstract The rate of world population growth gets faster every year, while on the other hand the land available for food production activities is increasingly limited. Efforts to increase income and food crop production by using cocoa farming to support national food security can be done by optimizing of land through crop diversification patterns by planting local tubers under cocoa farming. This research aims to analyze the optimization of land use, revenue and production costs. In addition, analyzing the nutritional content contained in each type of local tubers, namely sweet potato, cassava and taro. The research was conducted in the the buffer zone of Lore Lindu National Park (TNLL), Palolo District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The results showed that the optimization of land use and revenue was obtained through the diversification pattern of sweet potato and cocoa. Optimization of the costs use occurs in the use of fertilizer production inputs. In addition, sweet potatoes have a higher calorific value, protein and fat compared to cassava and taro. However, the carbohydrate content of cassava is higher than that of sweet potato and taro.

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Consumer Perceptions and Acceptability of Traditional Dishes Prepared with Provitamin A-Biofortified Maize and Sweet Potato

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11071577 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1577

Author(s):

Laurencia Govender ◽

Kirthee Pillay ◽

Muthulisi Siwela ◽

Albert Thembinkosi Modi ◽

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Vitamin A Deficiency ◽

Age Groups ◽

Food Samples ◽

Consumer Perceptions ◽

Provitamin A ◽

Consumer Acceptability ◽

Age Group

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is prevalent in South Africa, particularly among predominantly poor rural communities. Provitamin A (PVA)-biofortified crops could be used to address VAD; however, there are challenges of poor consumer acceptability. This study investigated the effect of replacing white maize and cream-fleshed sweet potato (CFSP) with PVA-biofortified maize and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), respectively, on consumer acceptability and perceptions of traditional dishes of rural communities in South Africa. Consumer acceptability of PVA-biofortified phutu (a crumbly maize porridge) served with either curried cabbage, chicken or bambara groundnut, separately, and boiled OFSP was evaluated by black South African adults (n = 120) using a five-point facial hedonic scale. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 56 subjects recruited from the consumer panel to assess consumer perceptions of the food samples. The majority of the participants rated the composite dishes containing PVA-biofortified phutu as “4 = good” and the acceptability of the composite dishes varied significantly (p < 0.05). Compared to other age groups, the 50–59-year age group showed higher preference for white phutu and chicken curry, whereas the 30–39-year age group showed higher preference for PVA-biofortified phutu and chicken curry. The acceptability of OFSP and CFSP was similar. The study participants showed positive perceptions of the OFSP, as well as PVA-biofortified phutu if served with either curried chicken or cabbage. The findings suggest that PVA-biofortified maize and OFSP can replace white maize and CFSP, respectively, in selected traditional dishes of the rural communities studied to alleviate VAD.

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Improving the Dietary Vitamin A Content of Rural Communities in South Africa by Replacing Non-Biofortified White Maize and Sweet Potato with Biofortified Maize and Sweet Potato in Traditional Dishes

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11061198 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1198 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laurencia Govender ◽

Kirthee Pillay ◽

Muthulisi Siwela ◽

Albert Thembinkosi Modi ◽

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Vitamin A ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Vitamin A Deficiency ◽

Nutritional Composition ◽

Dietary Vitamin ◽

Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽

Isoleucine Leucine ◽

Lower Protein

Biofortification of staple crops has a potential for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which are prevalent in South Africa. The poor acceptability of provitamin A (PVA)-biofortified foods could be improved by combining them with other food items to produce modified traditional dishes. The nutritional composition of the dishes could also be improved by the modification. The study aimed to investigate the effect of replacing white maize and cream-fleshed sweet potato (CFSP)] with PVA-biofortified maize and orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) on the nutritional composition of South African traditional dishes. The protein, fibre, total mineral (ash), lysine, and iron concentrations of the PVA maize phutu (traditional porridge) composite dishes (control), were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from those of white maize phutu composite dishes. However, the PVA concentration of PVA maize phutu composite dishes was higher than that of the white phutu composite dishes (P > 0.05). The OFSP had a significantly lower protein concentration, but a significantly higher (P > 0.05) fibre, ash, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, and PVA concentration, relative to the CFSP. The findings indicate that composite dishes in which white maize is replaced with PVA-biofortified maize, and switching over from CFSP to OFSP, would contribute to combating VAD in South Africa, and in other developing counties.

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Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) as a drought tolerant and food security crop

South African Journal of Science ◽

10.17159/sajs.2015/20140252 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol Volume 111 (Number 11/12) ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Nozipho M. Motsa ◽

Albert T. Modi ◽

Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Drought Tolerance ◽

Sweet Potato ◽

Ipomoea Batatas ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Positive Role ◽

Drought Tolerant ◽

Negative Effect

Abstract Sweet potato is an important ‘indigenised’ root crop in South Africa. It features prominently in smallholder cropping systems because of its versatility, drought tolerance and positive role in food security. It outranks most staple crops in vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and protein content. Much information is available on sweet potato as a drought tolerant and food security crop, but critical reviews that link its drought tolerance with food security are lacking. We review sweet potato as a food security crop, focusing on mechanisms associated with drought. We conclude that the crop has great potential in the light of imminent challenges associated with drought as a negative effect of climate change.

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Do Smallholder Farmers Need Nutrition Education? A Case Study from KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education ◽

10.5191/jiaee.2021.28314 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 14-27

Author(s):

Sarahi Moralles ◽

Abdukladir Egal ◽

Wilna Oldewage-Theron

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Dietary Guidelines ◽

Nutritional Knowledge ◽

Household Level ◽

Balanced Diet ◽

Kwazulu Natal

South Africa (SA) is considered as the second largest economies in Africa with well-developed agricultural food production system. But food security is still a challenge at household level. Currently, in Africa, smallholder agriculture is recognized to contribute food security at household level. This study investigates the prevalence of food insecurity and nutritional knowledge of 78 local smallholder farmers in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) province of South Africa. The results from this study indicated that nutrition knowledge was poor and food insecurity was prevalent at >40% at the household level. It is therefore recommended that future agricultural training should include nutrition education based on FBDG (Food Based Dietary Guidelines) in their respective programs so as to attain a balanced diet for healthy and productive smallholder farmer communities

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Hybrid maize and sweet potato intercropping: a technology to increase productivity and profitability for poor hill farmers in Bangladesh

SAARC Journal of Agriculture ◽

10.3329/sja.v12i2.21922 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 101-111 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MN Islam ◽

M Akhteruzzaman ◽

MS Alom ◽

M Salim

Keyword(s):

Sweet Potato ◽

Tuber Yield ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Light Availability ◽

Maize Yield ◽

Cost Ratio ◽

Research Station ◽

Gross Margin ◽

Canopy Development ◽

Equivalent Yield

The experiment was conducted at the Hill Agricultural Research Station, Khagrachari during two winter seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12 to find out suitable planting system of the component crops for increasing productivity and profitibility for hill farmers of Bangladesh. Three intercrop combinations viz., (i) maize paired row + 2 rows sweet potato, (ii) maize normal row +1 row sweet potato and (iii) sweet potato normal row + 1 row maize were evaluated against their respective sole crops. In all combinations, light availability was more at early growth stage and reduced gradually with the advancement of canopy development of maize. Light availability was minimum at 100 days after emergence and thereafter slightly increased in three intercrop combinations. Among intercrop combinations, light availability to sweet potato canopy was more in maize paired row + 2 rows sweet potato combination through out the crop period which enhance tuber formation, tuber bulging and tuber yield. Contrary, sweet potato vines provide a mulch cover for maize which preserve soil moisture and reduce weed infestation producing higher yield and yield components of maize. Maize yield (cob yield: 19.82 t ha-1, grain yield: 8.98 t ha-1), tuber yield of sweet potato (17.11 t ha-1) and maize equivalent yield (cob equivalent yield: 42.63 t ha-1, grain equivalent yield: 15.82 t ha-1) were the highest in maize paired row + 2 rows sweet potato combination. Similarly, the highest gross return (for cob: Tk. 1,27,890 ha-1, for grain: Tk. 1,58,200 ha-1), gross margin (for cob: Tk. 87,890 ha-1, for grain: Tk.1,08,200 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (for cob: 3.20, for grain: 3.16) were also obtained from the same combination. The results revealed that maize paired row + 2 rows sweet DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v12i2.21922 SAARC J. Agri., 12(2): 101-111 (2014)

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The Market Channel Preference Among Smallholder Cocoyam Farmers in South Africa: A Food Security Perspective

10.20944/preprints202003.0062.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christopher Nwafor

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Information Provision ◽

Primary Data ◽

Channel Choice ◽

Bargaining Position ◽

Channel Preference ◽

Logit Regression Model ◽

Market Channel

Market channel choice makes important contributions to the incomes and other livelihood attributes among smallholder farmers in developing countries. Often considered from a number of perspectives, the dominant view articulated suggests an advantageous integration into formal market channels. This position is questioned as it has implications for smallholder farmers’ food security and rural incomes. Using a mixed methods approach, the study collected primary data from 174 smallholder farmers and applied both a descriptive and multinomial logit regression model to analyze factors contributing to cocoyam production and market channel choices among respondents in the study area. Findings indicate that financial returns and available markets were key factors in cocoyam production, while amount received was a driver of market channel choice among 89% of respondents who sold directly at farm-gate. Farmers’ age (p=0.044), household size (p=0.043), distance to market (p=0.021), additional income (p=0.017) and amount received (p=0.014) were significant variables (p<.05) in the determinants of market channel choice. The study recommended improving market information provision and strengthening farmer associations which will enable smallholder farmers in rural communities to make informed choices with respect to produce price, access other markets and consolidate their collective market bargaining position.

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