In Uganda the root crop, sweet potato, provides an important component in the diet of poor people. But recently, sweet potato farmers have suffered declining yields due to a virus infecting the crop. Researchers funded by the DFID Crop Protection Programme (CPP) set up breeding trials to produce a virus-resistant variety. This research was linked with plant breeders who are trying to boost the levels of vitamin A in sweet potatoes. In consultation with farmers and processors, virus-resistant varieties have been produced with higher levels of vitamin A. Farmers, retailers and consumers were able to tell the researchers whether they would find these new varieties acceptable. A new promotional CPP project involving a local NGO and a regional organization is having success in multiplying the sweet potato “vines” (the stems used to cultivate a new crop) and promoting them to the farmers who are able to double their yields.

“ We have called our house ‘Naspot 5’ (a new sweet potato variety) because we built it using money collected from growing sweet potato vines.”

“ I have many types of sweet potato with enriched vitamin A. I’ve tested them. Once I had a child suffering from poor eye sight. I gave him sweet potato SPK 004 and within two months he recovered and is seeing well.”

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