99
© The Author(s) 2019
T. S. Rosenstock et al. (eds.), The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92798-5_9
Chapter 9
Climate Change and Seed Systems of Roots,
Tubers and Bananas: The Cases of Potato
in Kenya and Sweetpotato in Mozambique
Monica L. Parker, Jan W. Low, Maria Andrade, Elmar Schulte-Geldermann,
and Jorge Andrade-Piedra
9.1 The Significance of RTB Crops for Food and Income
Security Under Climate Change
Throughout the humid African tropics, root, tuber and banana (RTB) crops are the
most important food staple. Approximately 300 million people in developing countries depend on RTB value chains (namely cassava, potato, sweetpotato, bananas
and yams) for food security and income (Thiele et al. 2017). Indeed, foods derived
from RTB crops contribute significantly to caloric needs, from nearly 25% in
Nigeria to close to 60% in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RTB 2016). Being
bulky and perishable, RTB crops are commonly grown for local consumption
(Bentley et al. 2016).
The potential of RTB production to contribute to food security in sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) has not yet been realized due to low productivity. Underdeveloped
seed systems have been unable to disseminate clean seed of climate-smart varieties
of RTB crops. Potato yields in most of SSA have stagnated at 8–15 t/ha, largely as
a consequence of limited access to quality seed (Demo et al. 2015). In Kenya,
Uganda and Ethiopia, nearly 75% of the potato fields are contaminated with
M. L. Parker (*) · J. W. Low · E. Schulte-Geldermann
CGIAR Systems Organization Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) and
International Potato Center (CIP), Nairobi, Kenya
e-mail: m.parker@cgiar.org; j.low@cgiar.org; e.schulte-geldermann@cgiar.org
M. Andrade
CGIAR Systems Organization Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB),
International Potato Center (CIP), Maputo, Mozambique
e-mail: m.andrade@cgiar.org
J. Andrade-Piedra
CGIAR Systems Organization Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB),
International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru
e-mail: j.andrade@cgiar.org
© The Author(s) 2019
T. S. Rosenstock et al. (eds.), The Climate-Smart Agriculture Papers,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92798-5_9
Chapter 9
Climate Change and Seed Systems of Roots,
Tubers and Bananas: The Cases of Potato
in Kenya and Sweetpotato in Mozambique
Monica L. Parker, Jan W. Low, Maria Andrade, Elmar Schulte-Geldermann,
and Jorge Andrade-Piedra
9.1 The Significance of RTB Crops for Food and Income
Security Under Climate Change
Throughout the humid African tropics, root, tuber and banana (RTB) crops are the
most important food staple. Approximately 300 million people in developing countries depend on RTB value chains (namely cassava, potato, sweetpotato, bananas
and yams) for food security and income (Thiele et al. 2017). Indeed, foods derived
from RTB crops contribute significantly to caloric needs, from nearly 25% in
Nigeria to close to 60% in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RTB 2016). Being
bulky and perishable, RTB crops are commonly grown for local consumption
(Bentley et al. 2016).
The potential of RTB production to contribute to food security in sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) has not yet been realized due to low productivity. Underdeveloped
seed systems have been unable to disseminate clean seed of climate-smart varieties
of RTB crops. Potato yields in most of SSA have stagnated at 8–15 t/ha, largely as
a consequence of limited access to quality seed (Demo et al. 2015). In Kenya,
Uganda and Ethiopia, nearly 75% of the potato fields are contaminated with
M. L. Parker (*) · J. W. Low · E. Schulte-Geldermann
CGIAR Systems Organization Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) and
International Potato Center (CIP), Nairobi, Kenya
e-mail: m.parker@cgiar.org; j.low@cgiar.org; e.schulte-geldermann@cgiar.org
M. Andrade
CGIAR Systems Organization Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB),
International Potato Center (CIP), Maputo, Mozambique
e-mail: m.andrade@cgiar.org
J. Andrade-Piedra
CGIAR Systems Organization Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB),
International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru
e-mail: j.andrade@cgiar.org