1. Home
  2. Vol 3, No 1 (2019)
  3. Mlaviwa

Recent Trends and Future Directions on Value Addition of Irish Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) among Smallholder Farmers

Jacinta Mlaviwa, Edward Missanjo

Abstract


Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) value addition has the potential to enhance food security, household income and nutrition. This cross-sectional study was, therefore, conducted to examine value addition of Irish potato among smallholder farmers in Ntcheu, central Malawi. Data was collected using a standard structured questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The results revealed that there were significant differences (X2=103.3; p<0.001) on value addition techniques practiced by farmers. The following value addition techniques were identified: chips (65%), packaging (27.5%), crisps (25%), grading (12.5%), salad (5%), baking (5%), soup (2.5%) and grounding into flour (2.5%). It was noted that factors influencing Irish potato value addition among farmers significantly (X2=8.020; p=0.046) differed. The majority (70%) of the farmers were influenced by knowledge of value addition, followed by ready markets for products (57.5%), while a few were influenced by capital (45.5%) and availability of value addition equipment (40.0%). The study further revealed that education level and group participation significantly (P<0.05) influenced Irish potato value addition technique practices. Farmers with secondary education level or above and those in Irish potato group production are involved in diverse value addition techniques. Encouraging farmer group formation, access to loans to buy value addition equipment, linking farmers with supermarkets, and farmer’s exposure to field days and workshops are the strategies identified to promote effective Irish potato value addition among smallholder farmers.

Keywords


Irish Potato; Value Addition; Group Formation; Markets; Field days.

References


International Potato Center (CIP). “Potatoes for the Developing World: A collaborative Experience.” Lima Peru (2004): 13-20.

Food Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET). Crop estimate statistics for 2007-2008. Ministry of Agriculture, Lilongwe, Malawi and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. International Year of the Potato, (2008).

Assa M. Maganga. “Technical Efficiency and Its Determinants in Irish Potato Production: Evidence from Dedza District, Central Malawi.” African Journal of Agricultural Research 7, no. 12 (March 26, 2012): 192-197. doi:10.5897/ajar11.1463.

Hogan, S. “Irish potatoes leading a revolution in Malawi.” Worldandmedia.com, (2015).

Reece, S. “Potato Nutrition Handbook.” Denver, Colorado, USA, (2015).

Ayodele, Matthew Ojo. "Economic Analysis of Irish Potato Production in Plateau State." PhD diss., 2005.

Ugonna, C.U., M.O. Jolaoso and A.P. Onwualu, “A technical appraisal of potato value chain in Nigeria.” International Research Journal of Agriculture and Soil Science 3, no. 8 (September 3, 2013): 291 – 301. doi:10.14303/irjas.2013.084.

World Bank Report. “International year of the potato, 2008.” Hidden Treasure, (2009).

Agajie, T., G. Woldegiorgis, W. Kaguongo, B. Lemaga and D. Nigussie. “Adoption and impact of potato production technologies in Oromia and Amhara Regions. Paper presented at the National Workshop on seed potato tuber production and dissemination, 12 -14 March 2012, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, (2013).

Nungo, R.A., P.J. Ndolo, R. Kapinga and S. Agili. “Development and promotion of sweet potato products in Western Kenya.” Proceedings of the 13th ISTRC symposium (2007): 790 – 794.

Bonabana-Wabbi, J., S. Ayo, B. Mugonola, D. B. Taylor, J. Kirinya, and M. Tenywa. "The performance of potato markets in South Western Uganda." Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics 5, no. 6 (2013): 225-235.

Fuglie, Keith O. “Priorities for Sweetpotato Research in Developing Countries: Results of a Survey.” HortScience 42, no. 5 (August 2007): 1200–1206. doi:10.21273/hortsci.42.5.1200.

Rural Livelihood Economic Enhancement Programme (RLEEP). “Programme Evaluation Report November 2014.” Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Lilongwe, Malawi, (2014).

Churchill G.A. and D. Lacobucci. “Marketing Research Methodological Foundations.” 12nd Edition. New York: Dryden Press (2018).

Anderson, David R., Dennis J. Sweeney, Thomas A. Williams, Jeffrey D. Camm, and James J. Cochran. “Statistics for business & economics.” Nelson Education, 2016.

McClave, J.T., P.G. Benson and T. Sincich. “Statistics for Business and Economics, 13th Edition.” (2017).

Abebe, Gumataw K., Jos Bijman, Stefano Pascucci, and Onno Omta. “Adoption of Improved Potato Varieties in Ethiopia: The Role of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System and Smallholder Farmers’ Quality Assessment.” Agricultural Systems 122 (November 2013): 22–32. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2013.07.008.

Tewodros, Ayalew, C. Struik Paul, and Hirpa Adane. “Characterization of Seed Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Storage, Pre-Planting Treatment and Marketing Systems in Ethiopia: The Case of West-Arsi Zone.” African Journal of Agricultural Research 9, no. 15 (April 10, 2014): 1218–1226. doi:10.5897/ajar2013.8572.

Teklemariam, Tebabal Misikir. "The Impact of International Potato Center’s Nutrition Project on Smallholder farmers’ Income and Adoption of Improved Potato Varieties: Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia." PhD diss., Mekelle University, 2014.

Kyalo, J. “Potato Production in Kenya.” (2014). https://mfarm.co.ke

Mishra, A.K. “Net effects of education on technology adoption by U.S. farmers.” Selected Paper prepared for presentation at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, February 6 – 9, 2010. (2010).

Otieno, D. “Smart Farm: Potato value addition in Limuru.” (May, 2016).

Orinda, Mary Akinyi. "Analysis of factors influencing sweet potato value addition amongst smallholder farmers in Rachuonyo South District, Kenya." PhD diss., Egerton University, 2013.

Yohannes, B. “Review of Value Chain Analysis of Potato in Ethiopia.” International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering (2018): 8 – 17. doi:10.7324/ijasre.2018.32660.

Svubure, O., P.C. Struik, A.J. Haverkort, and J.M. Steyn. “Yield Gap Analysis and Resource Footprints of Irish Potato Production Systems in Zimbabwe.” Field Crops Research 178 (July 2015): 77–90. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2015.04.002.

Svubure, O, PC Struik, AJ Haverkort, and JM Steyn. “Analysis of the Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) Value Chain in Zimbabwe.” Outlook on Agriculture 46, no. 1 (March 2017): 49–56. doi:10.1177/0030727017690655.

Mbowa, S. and F. Mwasigye. “Investment Opportunities and Challenges in the Irish Potato Value Chain in Uganda.” Research Report No. 14. (2016).

Sebatta, Christopher, Johnny Mugisha, Enid Katungi, Apolo Kasharu, and Harriet Kyomugisha. “Adding Value at the Farm: The Case of Smallholder Potato Farmers in the Highlands of Uganda.” Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology 4, no. 3 (January 10, 2015): 210–223. doi:10.9734/ajaees/2015/13844.

Agwu, N.M., C.I. Anyanwu, and U.H. Kalu, “Factors Influencing Cassava Value Addition by Rural Agribusiness Entrepreneurs in Abia State, Nigeria.” Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development 15, no. 3 (2015): 19 – 24.

Omoare, A. M., E. O. Fakoya, O. E. Fapojuwo, and W. O. Oyediran. "Awareness of Value Addition of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) In Osun State, Nigeria." World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Biological, Biomolecular, Agricultural, Food and Biotechnological Engineering 8, no. 1: 20-24.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/esj-2019-01167

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.