Sweet potato can contribute to both nutritional and food security in Timor-Leste

• Published in: Field crops research 2013-05, Vol.146, p.38-43
• Main Authors: Williams, Robert, Soares, Felisberto, Pereira, Leandro, Belo, Bosco, Soares, Abril, Setiawan, Asep, Browne, Martin, Nesbitt, Harry, Erskine, William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ipomoea batatas; On-farm trials; Participatory varietal selection; Solanum tuberosum; Sweet potato varieties; Timor-Leste; Vitamin A deficiency; β-Carotene
• ISSN: 0378-4290; 1872-6852
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2013.03.009

•Calorie malnutrition and Vitamin A deficiency are chronic in Timor-Leste•In 198 farmer-managed trials, three sweet potato clones out-performed local by 29–45% in 2006–2007 and by more than 100% in the next year•Among clones, only light-orange fleshed clones, such as Hohrae 3, showed detectable levels of β-carotene. Carotenoids were not detectable in clones with lighter coloured roots•Clone Hohrae 3 with its improved production potential and β-carotene level has the potential to contribute to the alleviation of calorie and Vitamin A malnutrition in Timor-Leste Calorie malnutrition is chronic in Timor-Leste, where vitamin A deficiency is also common. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam.)) is a staple in cropping in Timor-Leste, of particular importance in the diet as household cereal stocks dwindle. This study tested if promising on-station results of introduced sweet potato clones were validated on-farm under farmer management across a wide range of agro-ecologies over the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 growing seasons using participatory varietal selection. Additionally, as the clones differed in tuberous root flesh colour we evaluated their β-carotene content and, hence, potential contribution to the alleviation of Vitamin A deficiency. In the 2006–2007 growing season three introduced clones (later released as Hohrae 1, 2 and 3) significantly out-performed the local by 29–45%, while in the next season the yields of these clones were more than double that of the local. Whereas only 29% of farmers gave positive comments about the local cultivar, 66–71% of farmers commented positively on the Hohrae clones. We assessed the β-carotene content of five introduced clones, only light orange-fleshed tuberous roots had detectable levels of β-carotene (802–1209μg 100g−1). It was concluded that 221gd−1 – slightly less than 1 cupd−1 – of Hohrae 3 with light orange fleshed roots will meet the requirement of an individual with Vitamin A deficiency in Timor-Leste. With an improved production potential combined with substantial β-carotene, the clone Hohrae 3 has the potential to contribute to both calorie and Vitamin A deficits in Timor-Leste.