Screening Of Sweet Potato Varieties By Subsistence Farmers In Basey, Samar, Philippines: A Case Of Traditional Experimentation In Upland Agriculture

C  Lightfoot,; D  Apura,; J  Cabiling,; M  Abaca,; R  de Pedro Jr.,

Screening Of Sweet Potato Varieties By Subsistence Farmers In Basey, Samar, Philippines: A Case Of Traditional Experimentation In Upland Agriculture

R de Pedro Jr. | C Lightfoot | D Apura | M Abaca | J Cabiling

Abstract:

Seventeen varieties of sweet potato [ Ipomoea bat at as (L.) Lam] were grown and evaluated by subsistence upland farmers of Basey, Samar, Philippines. The 14 local and three improved varieties were described by leaf shape and color as well as by the color of their storage root skin and flesh. The farmers' screening criteria consisted of storage root size; taste and yield; harvest duration; maturity period; vine growth; and resistance to weevils. The upland farmers prefer sweet potato varieties which are early maturing, high yielding, resistant to weevils, with sweet dry taste and rapid vine growth, and which allow prolonged sequential harvesting with good storage root yield on the creeping vines.

References:

KIRKBY, R. and MATLON, P. 1984. Conclusions of the workshop on farmers' participation in the development and evaluation of technology. In Coming Full Circle: Farmers' Participation in the Development of Technology. IDRC 198e. Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Council, p. 163.
SHANER, W.M., PHILIP, P.E. and SCHEHL, W.R. 1982. Farming systems research and development - Guidelines for developing countries. Westview Press, Boulders, Colorado. p. 414.