Gender-differentiated end-user trait preferences for sweetpotato varieties in Iganga and Kamuli districts in eastern Uganda. A Focus Group Discussion Report.

Sweetpotato value chains are changing rapidly due to changing weather, consumption patterns, increasing incomes, increased awareness and demand for quality products by consumers (Okello et al., 2018). These changes have compelled producers to demand varieties that are more suitable to their unique production environments, new market demands (such as the demand for vitamin A rich sweetpotato) and processing scenarios (Low et al., 2017). Thus, breeders need to respond to this demand by breeding new varieties that meet the preferences of the end users. A rapid assessment study for sweetpotato seed system in the Lake zone was implemented by a team of enumerators. This is a descriptive qualitative study aimed at providing an understanding of the preferred and non-preferred traits (characteristics) of key varieties in these changing production and marketing environments. Information gaps were filled by combining focus group discussions (FGDs) with key informant interviews (KII) and household surveys to understand the trait preference in parts of Eastern Uganda. Here, only FGD process is explained. FGDs have proven to be useful in generating information on collective views, knowledge, perspectives and attitudes of people about issues, and seek explanations for behaviors in a way that would be less easily accessible in responses to direct questions, as in one-to-one interviews. This study will inform gender responsive breeding strategies, specifically to help set breeding priorities and to expand the potential impact of improved varieties.

CK Mulwa, I Bayiyana, A Alajo, S Angudubo, S Letia, M McEwan, P Musana, S Namanda, BM Oloka, S Rajendran, G Waswa

EfD Authors

Mulwa, Chalmers

Bayiyana, Irene

Sustainable Development Goals

Zero Hunger