Community-based sweetpotato genebanking and distribution system
1998
Vega, B.A. | Bacusmo, J.L.
Baloi, the key producer of sweetpotato in northern Mindanao, has for several years cultivated fewer sweetpotato cultivars. The town is inhabited by 90 percent Maranao Muslims who derive their income mostly from cultivating corn, rice, coconut, and sweetpotato. The Baloi residents believe that the tpwn's Type 4 climate, rolling to mountainous terrain, and andesitic soil are conducive to sweetpotato growing. In-depth interviews revealed that out of 1o cultivars mentioned by farmers, only 2 were found widely grown. The reasons given for loss of sweetpotato cultivars were conscious replacement of cultivars because of performance, loss of planting materials to drought, and change of crops planted on farms. In developing a conservation model for Baloi, the nature and habitat of the crop, the value of the crop in the community, the extent of genetic variability, and the desire/needs of farmers were considered. The model hinged on stimulating conservation of diversity by increasing the benefits derived from enhancing, keeping, and utilizing the sweetpotato genetic resources. The project staff played the role of a non-discrete catalyzer rather than an open campaigner for conservation because it is believed that conservation should voluntarily come from the farmers, not something imposed on them by the project staff. Thus, in the implementation stage of the research four strategies were spelled out. Developing an on-farm conservation strategy for sweetpotato requires careful analysis of the social and technical issues. While the model appears feasible in economic terms and exhibited high acceptability at the initial stage, it has not yet been fully implemented. Thus, its effectiveness and sustainability have not yet been ascertained
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