Orange-fleshed Sweet Potato II

Lead Organization:

Helen Keller International, Inc.

Partner Organizations:

INERA, LCOPA / University of Ouagadougou, IRSAT/DAT

Community of Practice:

West Africa

Countries:

Burkina Faso

Duration:

11/2009—11/2013

Overview:

The health situation in Burkina Faso is dominated by a high incidence of infectious and parasitic diseases. The nutritional status of the population is characterized by high prevalence of undernutrition and deficiencies of some micronutrients (vitamin A, iron and iodine). In particular vitamin A deficiency is a public health problem that affects mainly children under 5 years, pregnant women and nursing mothers.Coming together in a strategic partnership, HKI, INERA, IRSAT/DTA and LCOPA/University of Ouagadougou are deploying efforts through this project to promote orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) as a source of Vitamin A and carotenoid antioxidants. The project works finding solutions to major constraints to OFSP production in the areas of the agronomy, cropping system, insect pests and diseases management, and tubers conservation. It also looks at adding value to OFSP by the development of processed products and the optimization of the processing to preserve high levels of vitamin A and antioxidant contents of leaves, tubers and processed products. Finally, the project works on developing a social marketing strategy to promote OFSP and its derivatives, particularly for children.

Grant Aims:

  • Identify the best suited OFSP varieties for different agro-ecological zones of Burkina
  • Develop a OFSP insect pests and diseases management system
  • Develop systems and methods for restoring fertility of soils under OFSP production
  • Develop cuttings and tubers conservation systems and techniques
  • Optimize antioxidant contents of local OFSP-based dishes for children and pregnant and nursing women

Outputs and Outcomes:

  • Key functional parts of a value chain that will enhance nutrition by promoting production and consumption of orange fleshed sweet potatoes. This includes everything from identifying better varieties and agronomic practices, to food processing and packaging for consumers, to nutritional monitoring.
  • Identification of best adapted sweet potato varieties for specific agroecological zones.