The Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM) is focusing on the transfer of sweet potato cultivation technology to enhance productivity and bolster food security. Over 100 farmers from Moamba district in Maputo province were recently educated on cultivating improved orange and purple-fleshed sweet potato varieties. This initiative, led by IIAM researcher Milton Tovele from the Umbelúzi Agricultural Station, aims to spread new cultivation technologies and introduce essential crop varieties for food security. The training covered various aspects of sweet potato production, including vine selection, soil management, irrigation, harvesting, and post-harvest treatment.
According to Tovele, the proper method involves cutting vines into seedlings with three or more nodes, each 30 to 40 centimeters long, and planting them 30 centimeters apart to avoid nutrient competition. He highlighted the importance of adjusting irrigation as the crop grows, with less water needed as harvest approaches, to prevent flavor loss and post-harvest spoilage. Tovele also noted the crop's resilience to pests and diseases and its relatively short production cycle, which varies from 90 to 120 days for some varieties, emphasizing the importance of adhering to this timeframe to ensure product quality.
Source: clubofmozambique.com