International Potato Center

Aug 7, 2023

KENYA – The International Potato Center (CIP) in collaboration with Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) has launched the KC Sweet Purple variety of sweet potato in Kenya to achieve food security and nutrition in the country. The ‘KC-SWEET PURPLE’ has a maturity period of 120-150 days and a yield of 15.74t/ha, making it suitable for dry land areas in Eastern Kenya, among other regions. “Recognizing its immense potential in contributing to food and nutrition security, CIP and KALRO collaborated to bring this game-changing variety to Kenya, where it was then known as ‘TU-PURPLE,’” read a statement by CIP. “To ensure its reliability and performance in different agroecologies, the purple-fleshed variety has undergone rigorous testing through the National Performance Trials, a collaborative effort by KALRO and CIP.” The variety’s high levels of beta-carotene, iron, zinc, and anthocyanin also make it attractive to the food processing industry as a healthy food additive and natural food colorant. According to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the distinct, purple-fleshed sweet potato is a result of its high levels of anthocyanins, a type of flavonoids with a strong antioxidant effect that neutralizes harmful compounds in the body that damage cells. The collaboration between CIP and KALRO emphasizes the importance of joint efforts in addressing climate change challenges for higher agricultural yields. Clean planting material can be sourced from specific institutions and companies for interested farmers. Originally from Ghana, where it was known as ‘SARI-DIEDI,’ which means “collect and eat” in the local language, the variety was introduced to Ghana as TU-82-155 from America and was officially released to farmers in the country in 2018. Special attributes of the variety include the shape long elliptic, kin color dark Purple, dry matter 27.9%, and Flesh color dark purple. The color of boiled roots is dark purple, appealing to adults and children. The texture of boiled roots is moderately Dry and floury mouth feel Taste is moderately sweet. Sweet potato is a tropical crop that thrives in warm and humid climates. In Kenya, the crop is mainly grown in the western and central parts of the country. The two primary sweet potato varieties grown in Kenya are the orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and the white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP). Orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) is rich in vitamin A, making it an essential crop in the fight against malnutrition in the country. On the other hand, white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP) is mainly grown for its tubers, which are used as food for both humans and animals. Sweet potato farming in Kenya is mostly done by small-scale farmers who rely on traditional methods of farming. These farmers usually plant the crop using vines, which are cut from mature sweet potato plants and left to dry for several days. The vines are then planted in ridges, which have been prepared by tilling the soil and adding manure. For all the latest food industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our  NEWSLETTER , follow us on  Twitter  and  LinkedIn , like us on  Facebook  and subscribe to our  YouTube  channel.