Socio-economic factors and cropping systems in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivation among north-central regions of Namibia

Sweet potato is an important food and nutrition security crop cultivated widely in sub-Saharan Africa, including Namibia, where its productivity is low. The objectives of the present study were to assess and document the socio-economic status and cropping systems of sweet potato cultivation, and to identify opportunities and challenges to sustainable production in north-central Namibia. Using a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach, data was collected from 238 smallholder farmers across four regions: Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto through survey, focus group discussions, and field observations. Women made up 61.34 % of the respondents who were sweet potato farmers. Sweet potato ranked the fifth most important crop cultivated, with the most dominant 61 % of farmers using the mono-cropping systems across the study regions. The majority (78 %) of sweet potato farmers harvested low yields below 250 kg/ha across the study regions. Sweet taste (89.90 %), marketability (51.70 %),drought tolerance (46.20 %), high yield (42.20 %), early maturity (35.70 %), diseases and pests resistance (26.91 %) were identified as the most preferred sweet potato attributes by respondent farmers across the regions. Limited extension services (74.70 %), pests and diseases (52.50 %), lack of irrigation water (37 %), poor soil fertility (23.50 %), low yield (21 %), lack of planting materials (19 %). were identified as leading constraints to sweet potato cultivation across the study regions. Most (35 %) of sweet potato farmers used organic fertiliser as a sources of plant nutrients, reporting more use of cattle/goat manure (67 %) across the study regions. The study recommends improving extension services, market access, certified planting materials, and women's empowerment. It urges raising awareness of orange-fleshed sweet potato, enhancing irrigation infrastructure, and strengthening policies for better sweet potato production and resilience in Namibia.