Adoption of two new potato varieties in Cameroon: Progress and constraints

American Journal of Potato Research, Jul/Aug 2003 by Deffo, V, Demo, P

Accepted for publication 7 April 2003.

ABSTRACT

In 1992, two potato varieties, Cipira and Tubira, were released in Cameroon by IRAD-CIP, a cooperative project between Cameroon and the International Potato Center. From 1993 to 1997, more than 31 tons of sprouted potato basic seed from these varieties were distributed to farmers. In 1998, a study was carried out in the main potato-producing region of Cameroon to characterize the progress and constraints faced by potato farmers in adopting the new potato varieties. Data were collected through a survey of 297 farmers using stratified random sampling. These data, analyzed using descriptive and student statistics, indicated that 98.6% of the potato farmers were aware of the new cultivars. Their main source of information was other farmers (51.5% of farmers informed). Seventy-eight percent of the farmers were still using Cipira and 62% had adopted it as part of their production system. These farmers (62.6%) reported that the resistance of Cipira to late blight was higher than that of local and European cultivars. The farmers' average yearly potato production increased from 1.6 to 3.1 tons during the period when these varieties were being adopted. The main constraint to the adoption of Cipira and Tubira was bacterial wilt susceptibility. About 59% of the potato farmers complained of this constraint. Another major problem was the lack of technical guidance for potato farmers from the Cameroon Agricultural Extension Service, from which only 27.3% of the farmers received information. Because of these constraints, 3% and 7.4% of the farmers had already abandoned Cipira and Tubira, respectively.

ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: Adoption, Cipira, Tubira, awareness, progress, constraint, variety replacement, abandonment.

RESUMEN

Dos variedades de papa, Cipira y Tubira fueron liberadas en 1992 en Camerun por IRAD-CIP, un proyecto cooperative entre Camerun y el Centre Internacional de la Papa. De 1993 a 1997 se distribuyo a los agricultores mas de 31 toneladas de semilla basica de papa brotada de estas variedades. En 1998 se Ilevo a cabo un estudio en la principal region productora de papa de Camerun para determinar el progreso y los problemas afrontados por los agricultores al adoptar las nuevas variedades de papa. Los datos se colectaron a traves de una encuesta entre 297 agricultores utilizando muestreos estratificados al azar. Estos datos, analizados utilizando estadistica descriptiva y de estudio, indicaron que el 98.6% de productores de papa estaban informados sobre los nuevos cultivares. Su principal fuente de informacion fueron otros productores (51.5%). El 78% de los agricultores estaba todavia usando la variedad Cipira y el 62% la habia adoptado como parte de su sistema de produccion. Estos agricultores (62.6%) dieron cuenta de que la resistencia de Cipira al tizon tardio fue superior a la de los cultivares local y europeo. El promedio de produccion anual de los agricultores se incremento de 1.6 a 3.1 tons durante el periode en que estas variedades estaban siendo adoptadas. El principal inconveniente para la adopcion de Cipira y Tubira fue la susceptibilidad de estas variedades a la marchitez bacteriana. Alrededor del 59% de los productores de papa se quejaron con respecto a este inconveniente. Otro problema importante fue la falta de direccion tecnica para los productores de papa del Servicio de Extension Agricola de Camerun, de los cuales solo el 27.3% recibieron informacion. Debido a estos inconvenientes, el 3% y el 7.4% de los agricultores ya ha abandonado el cultivo de Cipira y Tubira respectivamente.

INTRODUCTION

Potato is an important food crop in Cameroon. More than 70% of the rural women and a smaller percentage of men in the major potato growing areas of the West and Northwest Provinces are involved in potato cultivation (Foncho 1989).

The major constraints faced by these farmers include the lack of improved, high yielding and disease-resistant/tolerant varieties and the lack of good quality seed. The existing local cultivars used by farmers consist of old European varieties introduced into the country early in the 20th century by missionaries and colonial explorers (Foncho 1989). These conditions lead to low yields (4.5 t/ha) in farmers' fields (MINAGRI 1984; Demo 1997).

To overcome the above constraints, a collaborative project was initiated between the Cameroon Institute of Agronomic Research, now the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and the International Potato Centre (CIP). The IRA-CIP Potato Project was created in Bambui, Cameroon, in 1988 with the major objective of improving potato production in the country through the selection of adapted varieties and the production of good quality seed.

In 1992, the IRA-CIP potato project released two potato varieties, Cipira and Tubira, and beginning in 1993, multiplied and distributed seed of these varieties to potato farmers in the country. The main area of distribution was the Western Highlands, which is the main potato-producing region of the country. In 1998, there was evidence that about 31 tons of sprouted potato basic seed were distributed to farmers, with about 77% of this total distributed in the Western Highlands. This study was conducted to assess the progress and constraints faced by potato farmers in growing the new potato cultivars.