Kisii small-scale farmers have been encouraged to grow sweet potatoes to boost their food reserves and incomes.
According to Dorcas Kangerea crops researcher and Director at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in Kisii, sweet potatoes can be grown with little or no fertilizer.
"They are environment-friendly in that they reduce soil erosion and have a short maturity period from three to seven months," she said.
Kangerea said that whereas soil in the county was fertile, many farmers were not aware of various ways through which they could increase their output without degrading the soil.
She said the institute was implementing an AGRA smart seeds project targeted at tens of thousands of smallholder farmers across the country yearly up to 2017.
“The small scale farmers will be provided with the fast-maturing, disease and drought resistant and high yielding seeds in a bid to boost food security and generate incomes for the households,” Kangerea said.
The potatoes can be grown and harvested two to three times in a year while the harvesting can either be done in piece meal or one off.
If appropriate agronomic practices are followed, she said a farmer could obtain about 10 tons in an acre.