Sweetpotato Selection Releases: Lessons Learnt from Uganda

The National Sweetpotato Programme of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in Uganda released 14 sweetpotato cultivars between 1994 and 2005. Of the released cultivars, six have gained importance in local Ugandan markets and in export trade to Europe and two are being used as parental sources for high dry matter (>30%), sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD) and nematode resistance in hybridization schemes, and in the genetic mapping work in joint international collaborative research. Two orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) cultivars, namely, Ejumula, and SPK004 (Kakamega), high in beta-carotene (the precursor for vitamin A) are spreading rapidly for combating widespread vitamin A deficiency in Uganda. The major steps leading to the release of Kakemega and Ejumula are used to illustrate the experience of the Ugandan sweetpotato breeding programme sustained activities for a decade, and lessons learnt are highlighted. The sustained breeding activities have led to a vibrant and robust program, increased international and south to south collaboration, increased partnership and alliances; shifted research focus from production to production per se and quality (nutrition), resulting into significant and relevant agricultural research. The lesson here is that it takes a long time to develop technologies, disseminate and commercialize them. It also requires commitment by the donor, government, scientists, farmers and other stakeholders for effective commercialization of the developed technologies. Le Programme National de la patate douce au sein de l'Organisation Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique en Ouganda (NARO) avait lancé 14 variétés entre 1994 et 2005. De ces variétés, six avaient été trouvées importantes dans les marchés locales de l'Ouganda ainsi qu'au niveau du commerce extérieur en Europe pendant que deux avaient été considérées comme substances indispensables au service des ressources familiales (> 30%), pour le virus de la maladie de la patate douce (VMPD) et la résistance de la nématode dans les plantes, au plan de l'hybridation et au travail de la cartographie génétique pour une recherche internationale collaborative. Les deux variétés de Patates Douce en Chair d'Orange (Ejumula) et SPK004 (Kakamega) sont riches en carotène bêta (précurseur de la vitamine A); celle-ci se répand rapidement pour combattre la propagation rapide de la déficience de la vitamine A en Ouganda. Les étapes principales conduisant au lancement de Kakamega et Ejumul