The digital edition of the sweetpotato catalogue for sub-Saharan Africa builds upon the second edition published in 2014. Like the previous editions, the digital catalogue comprises: a) an update of the list of varieties to include the most recent and newly released and near release varieties from different countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and b) an up-to-date comprehensive look at of improved sweetpotato varieties in SSA across digital platforms. Unlike the previous catalogue, it is not restricted to varieties that are orange-fleshed. The majority of the varieties are released in at least one country and are grown by farmers, while others are advanced clones about to be released. A good number of the varieties are important parents in breeding programs to improve levels of β-carotene, root dry matter, and resistance to sweetpotato virus disease in the region. Some of the varieties are landraces from African countries while others are introduced germplasm from the USA, South America, and Asia, and have been found to be adapted to particular environments in SSA. The catalogue is arranged in single pages of information and pictorials for each of the varieties. Each page covers morphological characteristics, root attributes, and other major attributes as well as consumer and processing qualities of a single variety when that information is known. The International Potato Center (CIP) and its partners are breeding and promoting orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) as a food-based approach to combat vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and related health problems in SSA. Currently, about 48% of the children under five years of age in Africa suffer from VAD. As non-OFSP sweetpotato is already a part of many people’s diet, the transition to OFSP is just a marginal change. Our studies have shown that OFSP is highly acceptable to many rural African women, men and children and that integrated agriculture-nutrition education campaigns can significantly reduce the prevalence of VAD among young children. This catalogue should serve as a handy reference, providing summary information on current important and popular sweetpotato varieties in SSA. The information will be relevant to different stakeholders, scientists, development practitioners/ extensionists, and donors. For information on how to obtain varieties, please contact one of the offices listed at the back of this catalogue or the CIP regional office for SSA in Nairobi, Kenya.
The production of the digital sweetpotato catalogue was accomplished with funding from the Sweetpotato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA) project and the CGIAR Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) Research Program. The morphological characterization trial for the initial set of varieties was hosted by the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) at Kiboko, Kenya. Dr. Jan Low, SASHA project leader, facilitated collection of germplasm from different sub-Saharan African countries, allowed extensive travels to collect data from the morphological characterisation trial field, and provided valuable guidance. Dr. Benjamin Kivuva Musembi, assistant director KARLO and sweetpotato breeder, oversaw the management of the morphological characterisation trial at Kiboko. Dr. Maria Isabel Andrade (CIP Mozambique), Dr. Edward Carey (CIP Ghana) and Dr. Robert Mwanga (CIP Uganda) provided valuable technical guidance with the design of the characterisation study and development of the catalogue and agreed to include their released varieties into the digital catalogue. Dr. Some Koussao (Environmental Institute for Agricultural Research, Burkina Faso), Mr. Gaspard Nihorimbere (Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi, Burundi), Dr. Fekadu Balcha Gurmu (Southern Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia), Mr. Kwado Adofo (Counci for Scientific and Industrial Research, Ghana), Dr. Dibi Konan (National Center for Agricultural Research, Ivory Coast), Mr. Michelin Bruno (Agricultural Research and Development Center for Agriculture and Livestock, FIFAMANOR, Madagascar) Kennedy Masamba (Bvumbwe Agricultural Research Station, Malawi), Mr. Jose Ricardo (Agricultural Research Institute of Mozambique, Mozambique), Maxwell Innocent Nwankwo (National Root Crops Research Institute, Nigeria), Dr. Damien Shumbusha (Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board , Rwanda), Jebeh Barka (Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute, Sierra Leone), Dr. Sunette Laurie (Agricultural Research Council, South Africa), Dr. Heneriko Kulembeka (Ukiriguru Agricultural Research Institute, Tanzania), Dr. Bernard Yada (National Crops Resources Research Institute, Uganda) and Dr. Martin Chiona (Zambia Agricultural Research Institute, Zambia) agreed to include their released or near release varieties into the digital edition of the catalogue. Various people assisted with data collection, photography and Near-infrared spectroscopy analysis: Bramwel Wanjala, Ann Mulwa, Faith Njunge and Luka Wanjohi in Kenya, Edwin Sserunkuma and Dr. Jolien Swanckaert in Uganda. We deeply appreciate the efforts of CIP's Communication and Public Awareness Department (CPAD) in Lima, Peru, to make this catalogue visually appealing to the user, CIP's Research Informatics Unit in Lima, Peru, for providing the backend system for managing this catalogue, and Heartbit Solutions in Nairobi, Kenya, for development of the front-end system.