Sweet potato is a food security crop that can be grown nearly in all parts of the country. Sweet potato tubers in Kenya range between red, purple, brown, yellow and white. Which is the best sweet potato variety in Kenya? This blog post illustrated the best sweet potato variety and other various varieties are grown in Kenya.
The best sweet potato variety is the red-skinned and yellow-fleshed (red outer covering and yellow on the inside) because of its high consumer demand. Also, the variety is nutritional that is used to synthesise Vitamin A.
3 Types of Sweet Potatoes in Kenya
Types of sweet potatoes in Kenya differ in the colour of tuber skin and the colour of tuber flesh. There are three main types of sweet potatoes, they include:
1. Yellow fleshed sweet potato.
2. White fleshed sweet potato.
3. Orange fleshed sweet potato.
Sweet Potato varieties in Kenya are classified into two that is a local and an improved variety.
Local Sweet Potato Varieties
For the local varieties, they include, Bungoma, Gikuyu, Kalam Nyerere, Mugande, Namaswakhe, Nyakabondo, Nyakathuri, Nyawa, Polista, and Odinga.
Improved Sweet Potato Varieties
Improved sweet potato varieties are those that produce high yields and are resistant to pests and disease. They have been developed through a research involving KARI and International Potato Center (CIP).
The improved sweet potato varieties grown in Kenya include:
1. Kemb 10 and Kemb 23.
2. SPK 004, 013
3. KSP 11 and KSP 20.
4. Ex Diani.
5. Mugande Muibai
6. Mafuta.
7. Japanese 420009 pumpkin (CIP selection)
Sweet Potato Variety Comparison
1. Kemb 10 and SPK 004 are varieties which are suitable for most areas in the country.
2. KSP 20, KSP 11 and CIP, 420009 which are good in dry areas.
3. SPK 013 is recommended in the Western region.
4. Kemb 23 and Ex- Diani is suitable in Central and Coastal areas.
5. Mafuta is a variety that is suitable in sweet potato-producing areas and best in foliage production.
Comparison of the sweet potato will mainly depend on the colour of the tuber skin either white, yellow or reddish-purple, the colour of flesh white or yellow and the shape tuber and size of the leaves.
Best Potato Variety to Grow
The best sweet potato variety to grow is an orange flesh variety which is also known as Beauregard because it matures faster and produces more yields. It is also considered the sweetest among the various varieties of potatoes due to its juicy flesh.
Additionally, the red-skinned and yellow-fleshed variety is also considered the best because of its high consumer demand.
KALRO Sweet Potato Varieties
There are many sweet potato varieties being grown by farmers in different places. These varieties differ depending on their flesh colour and maturity time.
The following are various examples of sweet potato varieties:
1. Kenspot 1; Flesh colour is yellow and takes 5-7 months to mature.
2. Kenspot 2; has white flesh and takes 5-7 months to mature.
3. Kenspot 3; Orange flesh, 5-7 months to mature
4. Kenspot 4; Orange in colour, takes 5-7 months to grow to maturity.
5. Kenspot 5; orange flesh,, 5-7 months to mature.
6. Kabode; the flesh is orange takes 4-5 months.
7. Vitaa; orange flesh, 4-5 months to maturity.
8. Mugande; orange flesh, 4-5 months to maturity.
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