Farmers want sweet potatoes to be considered food security crop

12 May 2023, 10:54 am

By Otim Moses

Farmers in greater Acholi Region under their umbrella East Acholi Sweet Potatoes Growers and Roots Production Association have advised the Government and famers to consider sweet potatoes a food security crop.

Mr. Lapat Earnesti the East Acholi Sweet potatoes growers and roots production Association chairperson revealed on Wednesday that currently there are 56 varieties of sweet potatoes and take only three months to mature. This he says is a sure way to fight famine. 

Hon. Ociti Francis Ogaba, the Kitgum district secretary for production, marketing and natural resources noted that when all other crops fail, tubers like sweet potatoes and cassava are the only resort since they are drought resistant. Hon Ogaba appealed famers to grow sweet potatoes beside cassava and other crops in order to fight poverty in the community.

These during a stakeholders’ dialogue that was hosted by the Kitgum District Farmers Association on Wednesday at their offices in Kitgum town.