Webinar: Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato - a potent ally in Nigeria's fight against malnutrition and poverty

Orange-Fleshed SweetPotato (OFSP)
A potent ally in Nigeria’s fight against
malnutrition and poverty
Hosts
Hemant Nitturkar - Nigeria Country Coordinator, Development and
Delivery of Biofortified Crops at Scale (DDBIO)
Joyce Maru – Program Coordinator, DDBIO
Vivian Atakos – Regional Communications Specialist (CIP-AFRICA)
Webinar 7 May 2020:

Ms Joyce Maru
Program Coordinator,
Development and Delivery of
Biofortified Crops at Scale (DDBIO)

Dr. Paul Demo
Director – CIP Africa

CIP RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND GOALS
WEBINAR: ORANGE-FLESHED SWEETPOTATO (OFSP) – A POTENT ALLY IN NIGERIA’S
FIGHT AGAINST MALNUTRITION AND POVERTY
7 May 2020
Dr. Paul Demo
CIP Director for Africa

CIP Vision and Mission
Vision
A healthy, inclusive and resilient world through root and tuber
systems
Mission
CIP delivers innovative science-based solutions to enhance access
to affordable nutritious food, foster inclusive sustainable business
and employment growth, and drive the climate resilience of root
and tuber agri-food systems.

CIP Strategy and Corporate Plan

CIP Goals, Recent Achievements and Presence in
Africa
Notes:
1. Just one small root (125g) of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) meets
the daily vitamin A needs of a young child
2. There is a very big role that OFSP can and should play in improving
livelihood, food and nutrition security in Africa and in Nigeria in particular
through partnerships with stakeholders along the value chain
Presence in Africa

CIP is a research-for-development organization with a focus on potato,
sweetpotato and Andean roots and tubers. It delivers innovative science-based
solutions to enhance access to affordable nutritious food, foster inclusive
sustainable business and employment growth, and drive the climate resilience of
root and tuber agri-food systems. Headquartered in Lima, Peru, CIP has a research
presence in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
www.cipotato.org
CIP is a CGIAR research center
CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future. Its science is
carried out by 15 research centers in close collaboration with hundreds of partners
across the globe.
www.cgiar.org
CIP thanks all donors and organizations that globally support its work through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund: www.cgiar.org/funders
This publication is copyrighted by the International Potato Center (CIP). It is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Dr. Adegoke Austin Adedamola
Asst. Chief Agric Officer
Desk Officer Potato Value Chain,
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
with a passion for Agricultural Value Chain
Promotion and Development. He is working on
policy formulation and promotion of agricultural
value chain in the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development. He has
been championing promotion of Orange
Fleshed Sweet Potato within the country and
beyond.

Government Policy on Promotion
of OFSP in Nigeria.
Adegoke Austin Adedamola
National Coordinator/Desk Officer, Potato Value Chain
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
7th May, 2020
11

Background
• Nigeria started official promotion of OFSP in year 2012 when it entered into
partnership with International Potato Center (CIP) on the Implementation of
Rainbow Project.
• The Objective of the project was to promote production, utilization and value
addition for OFSP with health and wealth creation for Nigerians.
• The project recorded tremendous successes and raised the awareness level of
OFSP among Nigeria populace which we are now building on till date.
• King J and Mothers Delights were the two varieties that was promoted in the 6
project states and the FCT.
• Since 2016 till date, FMARD has been focused on building farmers capacity,
increasing production through input supports to farmers, supporting processing
and utilization of OFSP across Nigeria.
• The project which was fully funded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development came to an end in year 2016.
12

Bio-fortified Crop in Nigeria
• The use of bio-fortified crops to increase the consumption of bio-fortified foods in
Nigeria is widely gaining acceptance as the need to reduce the Vitamin A Deficiency
(VAD) which is prevalent among children under five, pregnant women and the
vulnerable.
• Crops like cassava, maize, beans, rice are been fortified with one vitamin or the other to
contribute to increase intake of vitamins by many families in Nigeria.
• OFSP is not yet in high demand like other known potatp varieties, but it is gradually
gaining attention among populace due to its high Vitamin A content and other nutritional
benefits.
• Nigeria have in place, policies that supports promotion of nutrition and food security.
The two major policies are;
• National policy on food and nutrition and the Agricultural Sector food security and
nutrition Strategy policy (2016 -2025).
• These two policy documents captured the application and utilization of bio-fortified crop
to combat nutritional deficiencies among Nigerian households.
13

FMARD PRODUCTION SUPPORT
• Nigeria is the second largest producer of Sweet potato in the World and
the 1st in Sub Sahara Africa with annual production of 3.9 million metric
tons. The average yield of potatoes is still between 5 to 10tons per hectare
among local farmers.
• The introduction of new and improved varieties of OFSP have raised hope
of yield potentials to between 20 to 50tons per ha, if GAP is strictly applied.
• Nigeria farmers are finding it difficult to achieve high yield potentials due
to many barriers that are limiting their production capacity.
• FMARD strives to increase and popularize production of OFSP which has
more nutritional benefits and health advantages than other potato
varieties. FMARD has being partnering with different development
partners and MDAs to accelerate the promotion and adoption of OFSP.
14

Some FMARD’s Achievement in OFSP promotion are as
follows:
• Establishment of Net Screen House with functional Borehole and water tank at Bayero University, Kano State
for the production of clean and virus free Orange Fleshed Sweet potato planting materials for Potato
Farmers in Kano states and its environs.
• Fabrication and procurement of 6 units of Puree making machines for Orange Fleshed Sweet potato.
• Procurement of 706 units of Motorized Sprayers and other agricultural inputs for farmers at subsidized rates
• Training and capacity building of 500 Potato farmers in 5 states (Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Ekiti and Anambra
states) on production and processing of Orange Fleshed Sweet potato.
• Establishment of 20 hectares of Orange Fleshed Sweet potato in 4 sub-stations of Root and Tuber Expansion
Program for the production of clean planting materials for farmers.
• Provision of 5,000 bundles of clean and virus free Orange Fleshed Sweet potato vines to 500 farmers in 5
states listed above.
• Construction of State of the art Tissue Culture Laboratory for the production of clean and high quality seed
of Irish Potato and Sweet potato vines at NRCRI, Jos.
• Establishment of 20ha of Irrigation facilities for dry season seeds and vines production for Irish potato and
sweet potato farmers at NRCRI Sub-station Jos, on-going
15

Proposed activities to support OFSP Development and
Promotion for 2020 are as follows:
• Provision of Net Green House in 4 Locations, NRCRI Sub station Iresi, FUNAAB and NRCRI Sub-
Station FCT, Fed College of Horticulture, Gombe.
• Demand Creation and Products Development for OFSP roots in selected 20 Federal Universities,
Colleges of Agriculture, and Secondary Schools in 6 geo political zones. 20,000 youths will be
reached with OFSP messages nationwide.
• Procurement of different customized promotional materials for OFSP to create more awareness.
• 20,000 promotional materials will be produced and shared nationwide
• 1000 copies of planting and processing booklets will be produced and be given to farmers and
interested stakeholders
• Training and Empowerment of 750 youths and women with starter packs on skill acquisition e.g
bundles of vines, Irrigation pumps and sprayers will be given to beneficiaries.
• Establishment of Production and Processing Centers to process OFSP into powder and other
products for local markets to increase consumption of Vit. A products among households in
Nigeria.
16

Proposed Activities Cont;
• School Feeding Program will be targeted as off-taker of finished products from
OFSP and about 400,000 primary school children will be reached with Vitamin A
products from OFSP.
• IDP camps and correctional homes will also be beneficiaries of the OFSP as vines
and training will be given to support Internally Displaced Persons and
Correctional homes inmates nationwide.
• Capacity building for 1000 farmers and processors to be trained on GAP, Farmer
Business School (FBS), Cooperative Business School (CBS) and Climate Smart
Agriculture
• Support to NRCRI and Center for Dry Land Agriculture BUK on vines multiplication
of Mother’s Delight and King J Varieties and also popularization of SoloGold
variety recently released in 2018.
• 333,000 bundles of vines are expected to be produced and distributed to 1000
farmers nationwide at 333 bundles per farmer to plant 1ha
17

FMARD’s Previous and on-going promotion activities
on OFSP with Development Partners
• Reaching Agents of Change –RAC Project, 2012 - CIP
• Rainbow Project - 2012 - 2016 CIP/FMARD
• JumpStarting OFSP Initiative - CIP
• SHASHA Project – support to development of standard seeds protocol
for Sweet potato -CIP
• BNFB Project -CIP
• WINNN Project – CIP/Action Against Hunger
• Nutrition and bio-fortified crop Project – World bank project -ongoing
18

FMARD Strategies/Plans for demand creation of OFSP
• Collaboration with relevant stakeholders (MDAs, DP, CBOs, FBOs, ADPs and NGOs) to
intensify OFSP adoption and utilization in Nigeria
• Collaboration and support to Farmers associations and groups to build farmers capacity
in the areas of GAP, FBS, CBS and Climate Smarts Agriculture.
• Technical mainstreaming of projects and innovations from Development Partners into
FMARD Potato Programs for continuity and sustainability.
• Intensification of awareness on nutritional benefits of OFSP across 36 states and the FCT
• Supporting and advocating the inclusion of OFSP in the diets of School children, IDPs, the
vulnerable and people in the Correctional centers nationwide.
• Creating enabling environment for processors, investors and off-takers to guarantee
continuous production of OFSP all year round.
• Facilitate consultation forum with potential biscuit and other confectionaries companies
to adopt the use of OFSP as raw materials in their production.
19

The proposed DDBIO project is a welcome
development and FMARD will fully support and
participate actively in its implementation.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
STAY SAFE.
20

Dr Edward Nwaogu
Assistant Director and National Coordinator,
Sweetpotato Research Program, National Root
Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria.
Dr Edward Nwaogu is a Soil Fertility and Crop
Management Expert with many years’
experience in Sweetpotato research in Nigeria.
He is presently a technical consultant to many
Root and Tuber crops farmer groups in Nigeria
including Sweetpotato Association of Nigeria.

OVERVIEW OF DIFFERENT
OFSP VARIETIES AVAILABLE
IN NIGERIA AND THEIR
TRAITS
PRESENTED BY:
EDWARD NWAOGU (Ph.D)

OUR NATIONAL MANDATE
To carry out research into the genetic
development/improvement, production,
processing, utilization, marketing and storage
of all root and tuber crops of economic
importance in Nigeria (cassava, yam,
Sweetpotato, potato, ginger, rhizga, Turmeric
etc) .
WHY SO MUCH ATTENTION ON
SWEETPOTATO AND OFSP?
From a dietary point of view and
nutritional perspective, OFSP is ranked
high among the crops under our mandate
due to its enormous potentials not only as
a life-saving disaster crop with high
carbohydrate, vitamin A and minerals but
also as a crop that produces more edible
energy per hectare per day than wheat,
rice or cassava.

Status of Sweet Potato Production in Nigeria
Nigeria is the third largest global producer of sweet potato after China and Indonesia
with about 4.01 metric tons in 2018 with a yield of 2.48 t/ha in 2018.
In the past, the dominant varieties of sweet potato cultivated by farmers in Nigeria
were mostly white-fleshed varieties most of which were low-yielding and susceptible
to pests and diseases.

SWEETPOTATO DEVELOPMENT AT NRCRI
NRCRI in close working collaboration with CIP, introduced
and released 3 varieties of OFSP (UMUSPO/I, UMUSPO/2 and
Solo Gold) in Nigeria between 2015 and 2017.
The Institute has also developed a standard agronomic
Practice for OFSP production in Nigeria:
Ø Use of quality seed material in very critical in OFSP.
ØUse of 4-node cuttings and complementary application of
organic manure and inorganic NPK fertilizer is advised.
ØPlant population: 33,333 (1m x 0.3m) gives a better yield
response in all agro-ecologies in Nigeria.
Ø Timely weeding and harvesting are key to quality root
production.
Ø Early removal of diseased plants should be encouraged.

Table 1. List of sweetpotato Varieties released by NRCRI and Their Suitability for
Business Enterprise
Variety Good Agronomic and Processing
Traits
Suitability for Specific
Sweetpotato-Based
Enterprise
UMUSPO/I (King J)
(Released in 2012)
(i) Very high yielding;
(ii) High resistance to SPVD;
(iii)Broadly adapted to all agro-
ecologies;
(iv) Very vigorous in growth;
(v) High dry matter content of > 30
%.
Suitable for:
(i) Road side fries;
(ii)crisps;
(iii)golden ‘Kunnu’;
(iv) Light orange sweet
potato Flour
(v) Noodles
UMUSPO/3
(Mothers’ Delight)
(Released in 2012)
(i) Carotenoid content; (ii) High
yielding; (iii) Tolerance SPVD; (iv)
Good root shape; (v) 3-4 months
maturity; (vi) Most suitable for
production in low SPVD pressure
areas e.g. Guinea and Sudan
Savannas; (vii) Low dry matter; (viii)
Big root sizes.
Suitable for:
(i) Good for orange French
fries;
(ii)Golden Kambar
production;
(iii)Golden Kunnu
(iv)Good alternative for
carrot in dessert

Table 1. Contd
Variety Good Agronomic and
Processing Traits
Suitability for Specific Sweetpotato-
Based Enterprise
Solo Gold (i) High dry matter (30 %); (ii)
High resistance to SPVD; (iii)
Moderately yielding; (iv)
Suitably adapted to most
agro-ecologies in Nigeria; (v)
High Carotenoid content.
Suitable for:
(i) Road side fries; (ii) Crisps; (iii)
Golden Kunnu; (iv) Good root shape;
Other Sweet Potato Varieties Released or Registered by NRCRI include:
(a) UMUSP/2 – White-fleshed with intermediate dry matter (35.93 %); high-
yielding (34.1 t/ha); resistant to SPVD; good taste. It is most suited for
production of white sweet potato flour and starch.

(b) TIS 2532.OP.1.13
Medium yielding; resistant to SPVD; High dry matter; good root shape; adapted
to all agro-ecologies; Big roots; Vigorour growth; Good for production of white
flour and ethanol;
FEEDBACK RESPONSE FROM THE PUBLIC TOWARDS OFSP
ØOFSP has been adopted by most farmers into the farming
system of Nigeria. Some state governments have introduced
OFSP into the school feeding program as a food-based
approach to combat VAD. Many OFSP snack shops have
sprung up in some states in Nigeria. Farmers are showing
increasing interest in OFSP production.
Ø However, the adoption rate appears to be low (35%)
relative to the level of advocacy given to the crop in Nigeria.

Reasons for apparent low adoption rate:
Low dry matter; Different consumer preferences in terms of taste, texture when boiled or
fried, inadequate market; inadequate processing traits of varieties released.
Future Sweet potato Research Focus of NRCRI
Ø Since varieties of sweet potato with high carotenoid contents tend to have lower dry matter
contents (Tomlins et al., 2012), striking a balance between these important traits is very
critical in any program that seeks to use sweet potato to create wealth and enhance good
health through processing, export and employment generation.
Ø To maximize the gains of OFSP production for local utilization and export, efforts must be
geared towards developing high yielding varieties with required shape, virus resistance, high
dry matter (which is lacking in present varieties) and early maturing attribute. Uniform root
shape and size are premium processing and export traits.
Ø Specifically NRCRI intends to develop and release sweet potato varieties with multiple
desirable traits of high yield, high dry matter content (≥ 30%), high β-carotene and iron (if
possible) contents, and resistance to viruses and weevils, that meet different end-user and
consumer market demands.
Ø Stakeholders Training on quality sweet potato seed production as a means of improved
farmer livelihood and revenue generation.

Prof. Lateef Oladimeji Sanni
President, International Society for Tropical Root Crops (ISTRC),
Chairman, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development
(AWARD,
Professor of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of
Agriculture, Abeokuta
Prof. Sanni has 30 years' experience in research,
consultancy and collaborations as a postharvest
expert on tropical root crops mostly
implemented by the Natural Resources
Institute, UK and International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA). He is a Fellow and
former President of Nigerian Institute of Food
Science and Technology.

Post harvest management, entrepreneurial
opportunities in Orange Flesh Sweet Potato
(OFSP), economics of it
By
Professor Lateef Oladimeji Sanni
President, International Society for Tropical Root Crops
Former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development)
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
Email: sannilateef5@gmail.com
Webinar Organised by CIP Project tagged Development and Delivery of Biofortified crops at
scale (DDBIO), 7 May 2020.

Market Structures
Short storage life

• Vegetable (boiled, fried or roasted)
• Amala (swallows)
• Puff-puff, chips, cake, gari
• Vegetable soup
• Doughnut
• Pottage, bread, chin-chin
• Juice and kunu.
OFSP products can be commercialized for income generation, job and
wealth creation for all, especially women and youth.
https://www.sweetpotatoknowledge.org/topic
s/nutrition-and-use/

• Farmers, Processors, Traders, Nutritionists, Entrepreneurs, Researchers, Mothers
and Policy makers
Opportunities
http://downloads.hindawi.com/journals/aag/2017/8767340.pdf

Sweetpotato Juice and Snacks
Juice
Crisps 37
FUNAAB
Team

OFSP-Wheat Bread
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fsn3.543
46% OFSP puree in existing 100% wheat flour bread
recipes consumed by Ghanaians
§20-50% wheat flour in baked products in
FUNAAB

OFSP –a Game Changer for 10%
Bread policy
IITA, NRI,

Scale up the inclusion of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) in wheat bread and
school meals in all States in Nigeria
is boosting the nutritional status of children and could help Nigeria to reduce its imports of
wheat drastically.
125g or 1⁄2 to 1 cup of OFSP Varieties
All Schools should Green Garden with
OFSP and other nutritious crops
Highly successful in Osun and Kwara
Scale up Promotion of OFSP in major
Cities
Organise Awareness with Fast Food
Industries

Conclusion
•Promotion of Value added products and
their business cases
•Advocate for inclusion of OFSP in School
Feeding Programs, Fast Foods, Bakeries
•Organise capacity buildings for actors
within the value chain

Dr Augustine Okoruwa, FNIFST
Head, EatSafe Country Programme, Global Alliance for
Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Nigeria
Chairman, Board of Trustees of OTACCWA-Organization for
Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa
Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology
Dr Augustine Okoruwa is a seasoned food technologist
with about 30 years’ experience in food quality,
postharvest technologies, food products research and
packaging development, food safety and regulatory
affairs. His working career spanned across International
Institute of Tropical Agriculture, UAC of Nigeria Plc,
Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and GlaxoSmithKline
Consumer Nigeria Plc before joining GAIN in January
2016.

Ms. Ibiso Ivy King-Harry
National Coordinator (Acting), Scaling Up
Nutrition Business Network (SBN), Nigeria
Ms. King-Harry is a results oriented public
health professional and a certified program
manager; specialising in private sector
engagement, partnership building, advocacy
and nutrition. She has worked with INGO, UN,
Private sector and Government in a few
countries in the areas of international
development and public health.

BETTER NUTRITION. FOR ALL.
The Nutritional Impact and Possibilities with Orange-Fleshed Sweet
Potato (OFSP)
Dr Augustine Okoruwa
Head of EatSafe Country Programme,
Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition
(GAIN)
Ibiso Ivy King-Harry,
National Coordinator (Acting),
Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network
(SBN)
CIP Webinar on OFSP-A Hidden Gem in Nigeria
May 7, 2020

ABOUT GAIN & SBN
• GAIN is driven by a vision of a world without malnutrition, in which all people have
access to and consume nutritious and safe food.
• GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of
nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.
• Current activities in Nigeria include: Large Scale Food Fortification (Flour, Vegetable Oil,
Salt, Sugar), Better Diets for Children (Promoting Egg Consumption), Commercialisation
of Biofortified Crops (Maize and Cassava), Support to FMARD - Senior Adviser on Food
Security and Nutrition, EatSafe (Food Safety focus on Consumers and Informal Markets)
• SBN - Scaling-Up Nutrition Business Network is the world’s leading private sector focused
nutrition initiative. SBN is convened in Nigeria by GAIN.
• SBN aims to engage and mobilise businesses to act and invest responsibly towards
improving nutrition for public health impact in Nigeria.

NUTRITIONAL IMPACT OF OFSP
Micronutrient Malnutrition (Hidden Hunger) is still a major problem in Nigeria and OFSP has a role to
play in combating malnutrition, especially Vitamin A Deficiency in children under 5 years
OFSP has been evaluated and documented as one of the few food-based intervention approaches to
improving nutrition with a strong independent evidence base:
The efficacy of OFSP for reducing vitamin A deficiency in children and women of reproductive age has
been globally recognized as a significant scientific achievement
Several studies have demonstrated the nutritional proofs of OFSP delivery channels focused on nutrition
(Vit A) in kids, adolescent girls, women in childbearing age
CIP work and other stakeholders working on OFSP have demonstrated that nutritious, biofortified OFSP
varieties are an effective tool for addressing food insecurity and malnutrition

NUTRITIONAL IMPACT OF OFSP: β-CAROTENE (pro-
VITAMIN A)
OFSP compared to the regular sweet potato has higher β-carotene content and higher
retention capacity of β-carotene during flour production
OFSP varieties have good to excellent amounts of trans-β-carotene, which is highly
bioavailable and its true retention after boiling is high (70%–92%)
100 – 125g of boiled or steamed OFSP available can meet the daily recommended
intake levels of vitamin A for Nigerian children < 5 years of age

OFSP NUTRITION IMPACT AND POSSIBILITIES - PRODUCTION, VALUE ADDITION &
CONSUMPTION….1
OFSP BECOMING A
SUSTAINABLE AND
COST-EFFECTIVE WAY
OF ADDRESSING
VITAMIN A
DEFICIENCY
ESPECIALLY IN
CHILDREN AND
WOMEN OF
REPRODUCTIVE AGE
OFSP BECOMING
WIDELY USED AS A
DIETARY SOURCE
FOR COMBATING
VITAMIN A
DEFICIENCY; EATEN
ALONE, AND/OR IN
COMBINATION
WITH OTHER FOODS
HIGH LEVEL OF
ACCEPTANCE OF
OFSP BY
HOUSEHOLDS FOR
PLANTING IN HOME
GARDENS AND
PREPARATION INTO
DIVERSE DIETS
OFSP INTEGRATED
BY HOUSEHOLDS IN
THEIR TRADITIONAL
FOOD AND DRINK
RECIPES AND
CONSUMED BY
HOUSEHOLDS AS
PART OF
DIVERSIFIED DIETS
WIDE-SPREAD USE
OF OFSP BY
FEDERAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENTS IN
SCHOOL FEEDING
PROGRAMS AS A
DIETARY SOURCE OF
VITAMIN A

OFSP NUTRITION IMPACT AND POSSIBILITIES - PRODUCTION, VALUE ADDITION &
CONSUMPTION….2
WIDESPREAD USE
IN COMMERCIAL
PRODUCTION OF
STAPLE FOODS
SUCH AS BREAD
USING THE PUREE
OR HIGH QUALITY
FLOURS
AFFORDABLE
HIGH QUALITY
OFSP FLOUR IN
USE FOR BAKERY
PRODUCTS AS
SUBSTITUTE FOR
WHEAT FLOUR AS
WITH HQCF
THE EMERGENCE OF A
LARGE NUMBER OF MSMES
INVOLVED IN VALUE
ADDITION TO FRESH OFSP
FOR PRODUCING
INTERMEDIATE AND
FINISHED FOOD PRODUCTS
FOR CONSUMPTION BY
HOUSEHOLDS AND AS RAW
MATERIALS TO FOOD
PROCESSORS
INCREASED
ACCEPTANCE AND USE
OF OFSP FOOD
PRODUCTS BY THE
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY:
HORECA-HOTELS,
RESTAURANTS,
CATERERS, AIRLINES
COLD CHAIN
SYSTEM FOR
FRESH POTATO
PUREE USE OR
PRESERVED
PUREE
INTEGRATION OF
OFSP IN
WORKPLACE
NUTRITION

CONCLUSION
v OFSP as a biofortified staple food crop offers a sustainable food-based intervention and dietary
diversification approach to combat vitamin A Deficiency in Nigeria
v Intensified production by farmers and encouraging its planting in household gardens followed
with a widespread use of OFSP in preparation of traditional foods and drinks will increase its
consumption for intended nutritional impact
v An expanded dissemination of improved varieties, production practices and appropriate
postharvest technologies, efficient and cost-effective delivery models for adoption will
stimulate growth in the demand for OFSP food products (fresh and processed) and expand
consumption by households through inclusion in diversified diets resulting in improved
nutritional status, especially children under 5 thereby reducing VAD among the population
v In the past 20 years, considerable research undertaken in many African Countries such as
Mozambique, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya has built the evidence base demonstrating
that OFSP as a biofortified staple food crop can be successfully introduced as an effective tool
for combatting VAD among children < 5 years. Nigeria should not be the exception.

Ms. Stephanie Omon Okpere
Project Manager, eHealth Africa
Stephanie is a public health practitioner, a certified
project manager and a commonwealth scholar. She
has extensive experience and contributed to the
implementation of several health, nutrition and
food security projects in Nigeria. One of such
projects is the introduction of OFSP to Kano state
which was funded by German Cooperation.

OFSP Success Stories: Implementing
OFSP project in Kano state, Nigeria.
Programs and Impact, May 2020

Project Objective
━ To introduce, increase knowledge and build capacity in the
production and utilization of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato
among farmers in 5 local government areas (LGAs) in Kano
state.

Project Activities
━ Community engagement and sensitisation
━ Set up OFSP central multiplication site
━ Set up of DVMs
━ Capacity Building for LGA Extension Agents
─ Intense hands on training of trainer (TOT) GAP and Net tunnel
─ Nutritional benefit of OFSP and OFSP processing
━ Step down training for men and women farmers
━ Development of household and commercial recipes

━ 250 male farmers trained and
equipped with farm inputs for
production of OFSP
━ Over 500 women farmers trained on
utilization of OFSP for commercial,
household consumption
━ 18 KNARDA extension agents trained
━ 5 decentralized vine multipliers
━ GAP manual and OFSP recipe manuals
produced
A completed net tunnel with sprouting OFSP vines, 2
weeks after planting in Garko LGA.
Project Output
Trained LGA Extension agents.

Beneficiary feedback
“I learnt how to make bread, snacks, chin-chin, cakes, juice and kunu from
OFSP and now, can make more money to support my family. I make about
N17,000 (approximately US $47) from 3 bags of roots and the leaves are
equally in high demand. It has been a great intervention for me and my
fellow women in Garko. We all farm, eat and sell OFSP. We are grateful for

Benefit to Households
$47
Additional
revenue Increased
purchasing
power
Increased
access to
nutritious food
(including
OFSP)
Nutrition
education/
training
Improvement in
overall
nutritional
status of the
family
Additional opportunities:
Commercial OFSP processing
and sales of vine

Impact on Lives: Increased access to OFSP
5,000+
people reached (excluding sales at the
markets).
Pyramid showing the reach of the OFSP project

Other Benefits
─ Communities are more aware of the nutritional
importance of OFSP
─ Increased production and utilization of vitamin A-rich
OFSP
─ Provide additional source of income for producers, DVMs
and small scale processors
─ Availability of reference materials
─ Gender sensitive - gender roles were maximised for
impact

━ Sustainable markets for
OFSP
━ Continuous access at
Household levels
━ Building value chain for OFSP
━ Market linkages
━ Increasing awareness among
─ urban population
─ rural population
━ Consider innovative approaches for
increasing uptake and utilisation
─ Incorporation into antenatal care
━ Encourage homestead gardening
━ Encourage healthy nutrition behavior
Major Challenges and Potential solution

Thank you for listening

Dr. Jude Njoku
Agronomist – NRCRI
Umudike

Experiences of beneficiaries during
CIP work in Northern Nigeria
BY
Njoku Jude C. (CIP. Nigeria)

Introduction
• Northern Nigeria records one of the worst malnutrition
indices in Nigeria especially on under fives and
vulnerable women
• Though recent results show declining trend
• CIP Nutrition intervention with OFSP and other
vegetables targeted 2500 Mother leaders from IYCF
support groups/care givers of SAM clients as direct
beneficiaries
• Aimed to reduce malnutrition through establishment of
Nutrition kitchen garden- dietary diversity
• The beneficiaries are predominantly Muslims
• Practices of female seclusion, which restricts female
mobility and interaction- confining them in their
compounds
• Interactions with these women becomes challenging

Jigawa state-3 LGAs
Gwiwa
Guri
Birinin Kudu
Yobe state-3 LGAs
Machina
Yunusari
Fika
1250
1250

Experiences
Breaking barrier to interact and engage beneficiaries
• Communication and interaction with community/religious leaders/husbands of
beneficiaries- community sensitization
• Established information flow for events- Community leaders- husband- wives
CIP’s Comm. & Capacity Dev. Officer
explaining the nutritional benefit of OFSP
to participants at Buntusu ward, Gwiwa
LGA
A cross section community
leaders/religious at
Margadu ward, Guri LGA
Town hall meeting.
CIP’s Comm. & Capacity Dev.
Officer explaining the nutritional
benefit of OFSP to participants
at Buntusu ward, Gwiwa LGA
CIP’s Program Assistant explaining
the nutritional benefit of OFSP to
participants at Matara Babba
ward, Guri LGA

CIP actions
Demo plots Community participation
in planting
Sensitization during field
day
Distribution of farm kits
High quality vines in net
tunnel
Root producer displaying
roots
CIP agronomists training on best
agronomic practices

Cooking Demonstration Training of Trainers, TOT

Selected beneficiaries reached at the stepdown training

SUCCESSES
• One interesting thing working with these beneficiaries is their
readiness and willingness to learn new processing and farming
practices despite their religious and cultural inclination
• positive response and cooperation from husbands of these
women in allowing their wives actively participate in nutrition
and income generating activities.
• excitement and passion they have for their kitchen garden

CIP Principal Scientists, DR, Jan Low (in traditional orange veil) interacting with
the beneficiaries during her field visit to some communities in Jigawa State

Webinar: Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato - a potent ally in Nigeria's fight against malnutrition and poverty

Recomendados

Recomendados

Más contenido relacionado

La actualidad más candente

La actualidad más candente (20)

Similar a Webinar: Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato - a potent ally in Nigeria's fight against malnutrition and poverty

Similar a Webinar: Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato - a potent ally in Nigeria's fight against malnutrition and poverty (20)

Más de International Potato Center/Centro Internacional de la Papa

Más de International Potato Center/Centro Internacional de la Papa (20)

Último

Último (20)

Webinar: Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato - a potent ally in Nigeria's fight against malnutrition and poverty