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Farming & Management

Pre-extension demonstration of orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) technology at Basketo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

DOI: 10.31830/2456-8724.2025.FM-180    | Article Id: FM-180 | Page : 133-140
Citation :- Pre-extension demonstration of orange fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) technology at Basketo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Farm. Manage. 10: 133-140
LAKAMO LIBEN, ABEBAW BERGENA, MELESE EJAMO, ANTENEH BULKE AND KANKO CHUNTALE libenlakamo79@gmail.com
Address : Ethiopia Agricultural Research Institute, Agricultural Technology Transfer and Communication Researcher, Arba Minch Agricultural Research Center, Arba Minch, South Ethiopia
Submitted Date : 30-11-2025
Accepted Date : 4-12-2025
Online Published:

Abstract

Sweet potato is the second most important root crop in Ethiopia and plays a key role in household nutrition; however, adoption of improved orange fleshed varieties remains low due to limited farmer awareness, cost–benefit evaluation, and preference studies. Strengthening adoption requires field-level validation under farmer conditions. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate performance, farmer preference, and economic benefits of two orange-fleshed sweet potato varieties. To further evaluate, this research was conducted during the 2024 main cropping season in Laska Zuria District of the Basketo Zone, South Ethiopia, across two Kebeles and 20 farmers’ fields. Alamura and Shafeta varieties were demonstrated as standard checks. Selected farmers received training through the Farmer Research Group approach and evaluated both varieties using the full production package. Vines were planted at 60 cm × 30 cm spacing with 55,555 cuttings per hectare, a stem-cutting length of 25 cm, and 5 t/ha compost applied before planting. A field day was organised at demonstration sites with farmers, experts, and researchers. Data from 5 m² plots were analysed using means, percentages, frequencies, and simple rankings. Alamura produced an average yield of 26.65 t/ha, outperforming Shafeta, which yielded 23 t/ha. Net benefits were 25,460 ETB (165.45 USD) for Alamura and 16,000 ETB (103.98 USD) for Shafeta. Farmers also preferred Alamura for its superior taste, drought tolerance, earliness, pest and disease resistance, and lodging tolerance. The sweet potato var. Alamura showed better agronomic performance, profitability, and farmer acceptance than Shafeta. Scaling up Alamura, along with its associated production technologies, is recommended to enhance adoption and diffusion in the region.

Keywords

Alamura Basketo orange flashed root Shafeta sweet potato tuber

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