Abstract:

Sweet potatoes are a major staple food in Uganda, the leading
producer in Africa, and one of the four largest producers in the
world. The crop is cultivated throughout the country, and is
especially important in densely populated areas of the south and
west. Annual production is about 1.7 million tons. Although sweet
potatoes are a rustic, low-input crop, yields are declining in many
parts of the country.
The major constraints are the shortage of high yielding, early
maturing varieties of acceptable qualities and tolerance to viruses
and weevils; shortage of clean, high quality planting material;
viruses, weevils and other pests and diseases; lack of appropriate
agronomic practices for specific agroecological zones,
perishability and short shelf life; and a limited range of
utilization.
The Sweet Potato Research and Development program at Namulonge
Research Station near Kampala has been working on a range of
projects designed to help farmers overcome these constraints.
Donor support provided by GTZ through CIP and support covering
operational costs from USAID/MFAD is being used to strengthen
research activities in the following key areas: