The use of orange-fleshed sweetpotato to combat Vitamin A deficiency in Uganda : a study of varietal preferences, extension strategies and post-harvest utilization.

Abstract

The Harvest Plus Initiative undertook a number of studies to document the situation of sweetpotato in Uganda with a focus on Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). These studies examined producer and consumer preferences, extension strategies and post harvest utilization.

Surveys were conducted and data collected from all four of Uganda's regions while considering intervention (communities in which some OFSP promotional activities had taken place) and non-intervention areas. The data was analyzed and the results are presented in this report. Chapter one, the introduction, gives the background on sweetpotato production, vitamin A deficiency prevalence in Uganda and the potential of OFSP in eradicating Vitamin A deficiency. Chapter two presents the methodology for this study. This chapter includes the methods used to select study areas, sample communities, data collection and analysis. Results of the study are presented and discussed in chapters three, four and five which respectively cover producer and consumer and preferences, extension and outreach strategies and post harvest utilization. Each of these chapters gives a brief introduction, spells out the objectives of each thematic area and presents and discusses the empirical results based on data collected from the different regions of Uganda. The sixth chapter presents conclusions and recommendations drawn from the study.

Citation

Social Sciences Working Paper No. 2006-2. InternationalPotato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru. 2006. 92 pp.

The use of orange-fleshed sweetpotato to combat Vitamin A deficiency in Uganda : a study of varietal preferences, extension strategies and post-harvest utilization.

Published 1 January 2006