DEVNET/TIPS ZIMBABWE POPULARIZES TECHNOLOGY ON POTATO GROWING IN BAGS, SACKS

Zimbabwe, April 2014 - DEVNET/TIPS National Bureau in Zimbabwe has intensified campaign on potato growing in sacks and bags, targeting women in households in urban and rural communities across the country. Over 300 women have already been trained on the popular technology of potato growing and production, not only to generate additional income for families but also to help fight hunger among the rural and urban poor.

Growing potatoes in sacks has become an emerging popular technology in Zimbabwe. Potatoes are planted in 50 kg woven polythene sacks filled with top soil and grown in backyards and open public spaces.

Advantages of popular technology are:

·         Sack potato production can be done on a small piece of land.

·         Sacks keep a lot of moisture, thereby potato growing becomes manageable.

·         There is negligible loss of liquid fertilizer.

·         It is easy to control pests and diseases.

·         There is very little damage to potatoes during harvest.

The Scientific and Industrial Research  and Development Centre of Zimbabwe, in cooperation with the TIPS-WINNER  National  Bureau,  has done experiments and trials of planting  different varieties of potato seed available in Zimbabwe, using different soil types and levels of nutrient management.  

Based on the results of field trials, a comprehensive training module was developed and this is what is being used by trainors in conducting training of women and men in communities.  Successful trainees echoed their know-how to others through community outreach and training of more women.


Empowering urban and peri-urban women in Zimbabwe, with the technical know-how on potato growing in sacks, can dramatically improve household food subsistence as well as family income. This technology is ideal for women who have limited land and have limited formal training in horticulture.  Majority of the trainees who successfully completed the training program implemented their knowledge of potato growing in sacks right in their backyards.  


 


TIPS advocates that before planting the potatoes these should first be tested for compatibility with the soil.  To ensure good harvest, the right fertilizer is applied, as recommended by SIRDC.  TIPS–WINNER Zimbabwe National Bureau already has a database of women trained on potato growing in sacks.


 


Zimbabwe has an area of approximately 390,000 sq. km.  Sixty-six percent of the country’s workforce is in the agricultural sector (around 5 million).

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