Training provided to farmers on cultivating sweet potato

The Ministry of Agriculture provided awareness training for exemplary farmers from Dekemhare town aimed at raising the knowledge of farmers on sweet potato.

Dekemhare, 14 October 2011- The Ministry of Agriculture provided awareness training for exemplary farmers from Dekemhare town aimed at raising the knowledge of farmers on sweet potato.

The training incorporated the importance of sweet potato, the care that should be taken from planting up to harvest and on how to feed the potato, as well as on how to use it as animal fodder.
The farmers also gained practical experience during their visit to Mendefera and Dubarwa experimental farms where the potato is planted.

Farmer Gebru Gebrehiwet explained that after he received practical training on the importance of the sweet potato, he decided to introduce it in his farm.

Mr. Tadesse Tekle on his part said that since the potato could directly be used as food and expressing his satisfaction with what he observed and the experience he gained, indicated that he will introduce the plant in his community.

Likewise farmers Tekle Habtemariam and Letebrhan Gebreselasie pointed out that the sweet potato holds different nutrition and called for similar training to enhance the knowledge of farmers about the plant. Mr. Eyasu Asefaw, head of the Ministry of Agriculture branch office in Mendefera indicated the significance role of farmers introducing the plant similar to those previous plants of Moringa and Gesso whose importance was realized through research.

In a meeting conducted with the exemplary farmers, Dr. Eyasu Gebretatyos, Director of the National Research Institute in Halhale explained the contribution sweet potato could make towards ensuring food security, encouraged them to cultivate it with full capacity.