# Sweetpotato cultivation: characteristics, constraints and preferred traits of producers and consumers in Côte d'Ivoire

Jean Hugues Martial Kouassi, Konan Evrard Brice Dibi, Mambé

Auguste-dénise Boye, Brice Sidoine Essis, Amani Michel Kouakou, Boni

N'Zué, Dominique Dufour

► To cite this version:

Jean Hugues Martial Kouassi, Konan Evrard Brice Dibi, Mambé Auguste-dénise Boye, Brice Sidoine Essis, Amani Michel Kouakou, et al. Sweetpotato cultivation: characteristics, constraints and preferred traits of producers and consumers in Côte d'Ivoire. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2023, 104 (8), pp.4922-4929. 10.1002/jsfa.12923. hal-04598571

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# Sweetpotato cultivation: characteristics, constraints and preferred traits of producers and consumers in Côte d'Ivoire

Jean Hugues Martial Kouassi,<sup>a,b*</sup> Konan Evrard Brice Dibi,<sup>b</sup>

Mambé Auguste-Dénise Boye,<sup>a</sup> Brice Sidoine Essis,<sup>b</sup>

Amani Michel Kouakou,<sup>b</sup> Boni N'zué<sup>b</sup> and Dominique Dufour<sup>c,d*</sup> <sup>●</sup>

## Abstract

**Background:** In an environment where the adoption of improved varieties resulting from plant breeding programs is limited, it is essential to identify end-user preferences beforehand. A participatory survey was conducted in eight localities in Korhogo and Bouaké regions (central and northern Côte d'Ivoire respectively) to identify producers' preferences and increase the adoption of improved varieties. The study involved 160 producers and consumers through focus group discussions and individual interviews.

**Results:** Sweetpotato is mostly grown on small plots (<1 ha) of land (89.2%), with women (66%) as the main producers. In the Bouaké region, sweetpotatoes are grown on mounds (100%), whereas in Korhogo they are grown on ridges (86.2%). The main food products or forms of preparation from roots are fries (34.7%), boiled (34.3%), mashed (12.4%), and sweetpotato stew (9.1%). Major constraints, including low price of roots (26.3%), low productivity (16.2%), and post-harvest storage issues (14.5%), were identified as affecting sweetpotato production.

**Conclusions:** The selection of new varieties should be oriented towards high-yielding varieties with high dry matter content, deployed stems, and roots of round, oblong, or elliptical shape with good culinary characteristics (dry matter, sweet taste, dry texture, absence of fiber). Plants must be drought resistant, be tolerant to poor soil, diseases, and pests, and have a good yield. The color of skin and flesh of the sweetpotato, although constituting criteria of choice, are not essential for the acceptance or the rejection of a variety by users.

© 2023 The Authors. *Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture* published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

**Keywords:** end-user preferences; participatory varietal selection; farming system; efficient breeding; food security

## INTRODUCTION

Sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* (L) Lam) is increasingly important for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa.¹ It is a climate-resilient plant that is easily propagated and can grow with few external inputs on poor soils under different rainfall regimes.² It is one of the root and tuber crops consumed by over 2 billion people worldwide.³

Sweetpotato is produced annually in all regions of Côte d'Ivoire, but it is mainly grown in the northern and central regions.⁴ Annual production is about 52 232 t⁵ and consists mainly of white- and yellow-fleshed varieties. It is usually consumed fried or boiled.⁶ According to Peters,⁷ 30–80% of total sweetpotato production is consumed in fried form in some regions in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

Local and introduced (from Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and Peru) varieties are grown in Côte d'Ivoire.⁸ Introduced varieties are mostly the result of research carried out by breeders over

the last two decades. The focus has been on high-yielding, orange-fleshed varieties, rich in provitamin A and with high nutritional values.⁹ Much effort has been invested in assessing the

<footnote>* Correspondence to: Jean Hugues Martial Kouassi, Laboratoire d'Amélioration de la Production Agricole (APA), UFR Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), BP 150 Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, E-mail: jhmkouassi@gmail.com; or Dominique Dufour, CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, Montpellier, France, dominique.dufour@cirad.fr</footnote>

<footnote>a Laboratoire d'Amélioration de la Production Agricole (APA), UFR Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire</footnote>

<footnote>b Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire</footnote>

<footnote>c CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, Montpellier, France</footnote>

<footnote>d Qualisud, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier SupAgro, Université d'Avignon, Université de la Réunion, Montpellier, France</footnote>
<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

# Sweetpotato cultivation: characteristics, constraints and preferred traits of producers and consumers in Côte d'Ivoire

Jean Hugues Martial Kouassi,<sup>a,b*</sup> Konan Evrard Brice Dibi,<sup>b</sup>

Mambé Auguste-Dénise Boye,<sup>a</sup> Brice Sidoine Essis,<sup>b</sup>

Amani Michel Kouakou,<sup>b</sup> Boni N'zué<sup>b</sup> and Dominique Dufour<sup>c,d*</sup> <sup>●</sup>

## Abstract

**Background:** In an environment where the adoption of improved varieties resulting from plant breeding programs is limited, it is essential to identify end-user preferences beforehand. A participatory survey was conducted in eight localities in Korhogo and Bouaké regions (central and northern Côte d'Ivoire respectively) to identify producers' preferences and increase the adoption of improved varieties. The study involved 160 producers and consumers through focus group discussions and individual interviews.

**Results:** Sweetpotato is mostly grown on small plots (<1 ha) of land (89.2%), with women (66%) as the main producers. In the Bouaké region, sweetpotatoes are grown on mounds (100%), whereas in Korhogo they are grown on ridges (86.2%). The main food products or forms of preparation from roots are fries (34.7%), boiled (34.3%), mashed (12.4%), and sweetpotato stew (9.1%). Major constraints, including low price of roots (26.3%), low productivity (16.2%), and post-harvest storage issues (14.5%), were identified as affecting sweetpotato production.

**Conclusions:** The selection of new varieties should be oriented towards high-yielding varieties with high dry matter content, deployed stems, and roots of round, oblong, or elliptical shape with good culinary characteristics (dry matter, sweet taste, dry texture, absence of fiber). Plants must be drought resistant, be tolerant to poor soil, diseases, and pests, and have a good yield. The color of skin and flesh of the sweetpotato, although constituting criteria of choice, are not essential for the acceptance or the rejection of a variety by users.

© 2023 The Authors. *Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture* published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

**Keywords:** end-user preferences; participatory varietal selection; farming system; efficient breeding; food security

## INTRODUCTION

Sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* (L) Lam) is increasingly important for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa.¹ It is a climate-resilient plant that is easily propagated and can grow with few external inputs on poor soils under different rainfall regimes.² It is one of the root and tuber crops consumed by over 2 billion people worldwide.³

Sweetpotato is produced annually in all regions of Côte d'Ivoire, but it is mainly grown in the northern and central regions.⁴ Annual production is about 52 232 t⁵ and consists mainly of white- and yellow-fleshed varieties. It is usually consumed fried or boiled.⁶ According to Peters,⁷ 30–80% of total sweetpotato production is consumed in fried form in some regions in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as in Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

Local and introduced (from Mozambique, Burkina Faso, and Peru) varieties are grown in Côte d'Ivoire.⁸ Introduced varieties are mostly the result of research carried out by breeders over

the last two decades. The focus has been on high-yielding, orange-fleshed varieties, rich in provitamin A and with high nutritional values.⁹ Much effort has been invested in assessing the

<footnote>* Correspondence to: Jean Hugues Martial Kouassi, Laboratoire d'Amélioration de la Production Agricole (APA), UFR Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), BP 150 Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, E-mail: jhmkouassi@gmail.com; or Dominique Dufour, CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, Montpellier, France, dominique.dufour@cirad.fr</footnote>

<footnote>a Laboratoire d'Amélioration de la Production Agricole (APA), UFR Agroforesterie, Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire</footnote>

<footnote>b Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire</footnote>

<footnote>c CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, Montpellier, France</footnote>

<footnote>d Qualisud, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, Montpellier SupAgro, Université d'Avignon, Université de la Réunion, Montpellier, France</footnote>
adaptability of the introduced germplasm and has focused on yield under biotic and abiotic stress as the main traits.¹⁰ However, the released varieties have recorded a low adoption rate by end-users.

The lack of inclusion of participatory approaches in many breeding programs in developing countries negatively affects the level of adoption of newly developed varieties.<sup>11,12</sup> Farmers have always selected and grown the varieties they prefer. Most of the traits considered important by farmers, however, may not be well known to breeders or, if known, breeders lack the techniques to assess them.<sup>13</sup> Jenkins et al.<sup>14</sup> indicated that understanding consumer preferences can enhance the adoption of a new released variety. According to Dibi et al.,<sup>6</sup> apart from the yield, other determining factors in choice of a variety are sweetness and dry texture of the boiled root. However, food preferences can vary among individuals, age groups, gender, and sometimes cultures, as well as geographical locations.<sup>15</sup>

In some countries, such as Côte d'Ivoire, farmers are conservative,<sup>16</sup> and understanding information on factors affecting the adoption of new genotypes is critical for improving their adoption. Participatory rural appraisal is an action research tool that involves community members or end-users with the aim of harnessing their knowledge to solve local problems.<sup>17</sup> This assessment uses many approaches, such as individual surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs). The method has been designed to allow local people to be involved, not only as sources of information, but also as partners in the collection and analysis of information.<sup>17,18</sup> Thus, involving farmers in the evaluation of varieties according to their preferences and understanding the factors that hinder adoption could increase the effectiveness of breeding programs, and hence increase yield and adoption of sweetpotato. The objective of this study was to identify the preferences of sweetpotato end-users in Côte d'Ivoire.

# MATERIAL AND METHODS

## Study sites

This study took place in eight villages of Côte d'Ivoire. Four of them were in the Korhogo region in the north: Tagbangakaha (9°20' N, 5°38' W), Naoualakaha (9°19' N, 5°38' W), Sambalakaha (9°23' N, 5°35' W), and Dokaha (9°24' N, 5°38' W). The remaining four villages were in the district of Bouaké in the center of the country: Kanankro (7°44' N, 4°59' W), Kanhankro (7°44' N, 4°57' W), Attienkro (7°43' N, 5°00' W) and Oliénou (7°42' N, 4°59' W). These are two of the major sweetpotato growing regions in Côte d'Ivoire (Fig. 1). The district of Korhogo has a dry tropical regime of the Sudanese–Sahelian type, characterized by a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October,<sup>19</sup> whereas the district of Bouaké has a Sudanese type of climate where long-term data show two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, but seasonality can vary year to year.<sup>20</sup>

## Data collection

Data to assess the preferred traits, the cropping system, and the constraints to sweetpotato production were collected through FGDs and individual interviews with farmers and consumers. To facilitate data collection, the languages used were French and three local languages (Baoulé, Sénoufo, and Dioula) with the help of a translator. Four FGDs were conducted in each of the two regions. Each FGD was composed of at least ten participants; namely, a breeder, two technicians, a rural development and extension officer, community opinion leaders, farmers, and consumers. All the discussions were conducted with women being two-thirds of the group, because they are much more involved in sweetpotato activities than men are.

Semi-structured questionnaires were developed to be administered to sweetpotato farmers and consumers. Sampling was carried out within households at the district level, where a total of

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1.** Map of Côte d'Ivoire showing the study areas.</figcaption></figure>
adaptability of the introduced germplasm and has focused on yield under biotic and abiotic stress as the main traits.¹⁰ However, the released varieties have recorded a low adoption rate by end-users.

The lack of inclusion of participatory approaches in many breeding programs in developing countries negatively affects the level of adoption of newly developed varieties.<sup>11,12</sup> Farmers have always selected and grown the varieties they prefer. Most of the traits considered important by farmers, however, may not be well known to breeders or, if known, breeders lack the techniques to assess them.<sup>13</sup> Jenkins et al.<sup>14</sup> indicated that understanding consumer preferences can enhance the adoption of a new released variety. According to Dibi et al.,<sup>6</sup> apart from the yield, other determining factors in choice of a variety are sweetness and dry texture of the boiled root. However, food preferences can vary among individuals, age groups, gender, and sometimes cultures, as well as geographical locations.<sup>15</sup>

In some countries, such as Côte d'Ivoire, farmers are conservative,<sup>16</sup> and understanding information on factors affecting the adoption of new genotypes is critical for improving their adoption. Participatory rural appraisal is an action research tool that involves community members or end-users with the aim of harnessing their knowledge to solve local problems.<sup>17</sup> This assessment uses many approaches, such as individual surveys and focus group discussions (FGDs). The method has been designed to allow local people to be involved, not only as sources of information, but also as partners in the collection and analysis of information.<sup>17,18</sup> Thus, involving farmers in the evaluation of varieties according to their preferences and understanding the factors that hinder adoption could increase the effectiveness of breeding programs, and hence increase yield and adoption of sweetpotato. The objective of this study was to identify the preferences of sweetpotato end-users in Côte d'Ivoire.

# MATERIAL AND METHODS

## Study sites

This study took place in eight villages of Côte d'Ivoire. Four of them were in the Korhogo region in the north: Tagbangakaha (9°20' N, 5°38' W), Naoualakaha (9°19' N, 5°38' W), Sambalakaha (9°23' N, 5°35' W), and Dokaha (9°24' N, 5°38' W). The remaining four villages were in the district of Bouaké in the center of the country: Kanankro (7°44' N, 4°59' W), Kanhankro (7°44' N, 4°57' W), Attienkro (7°43' N, 5°00' W) and Oliénou (7°42' N, 4°59' W). These are two of the major sweetpotato growing regions in Côte d'Ivoire (Fig. 1). The district of Korhogo has a dry tropical regime of the Sudanese–Sahelian type, characterized by a dry season from November to April and a rainy season from May to October,<sup>19</sup> whereas the district of Bouaké has a Sudanese type of climate where long-term data show two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, but seasonality can vary year to year.<sup>20</sup>

## Data collection

Data to assess the preferred traits, the cropping system, and the constraints to sweetpotato production were collected through FGDs and individual interviews with farmers and consumers. To facilitate data collection, the languages used were French and three local languages (Baoulé, Sénoufo, and Dioula) with the help of a translator. Four FGDs were conducted in each of the two regions. Each FGD was composed of at least ten participants; namely, a breeder, two technicians, a rural development and extension officer, community opinion leaders, farmers, and consumers. All the discussions were conducted with women being two-thirds of the group, because they are much more involved in sweetpotato activities than men are.

Semi-structured questionnaires were developed to be administered to sweetpotato farmers and consumers. Sampling was carried out within households at the district level, where a total of

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1.** Map of Côte d'Ivoire showing the study areas.</figcaption></figure>
<table><caption>**Table 1.** Rank of sweetpotato and other main crops in two districts of Côte d'Ivoire</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Rank</th><th colspan="5">Bouaké villages</th><th colspan="3">Korhogo villages</th></tr><tr><th>Attienkro</th><th>Kahankro</th><th>Kanankro</th><th>Oliénou</th><th>Dokaha</th><th>Naoulakaha</th><th>Sambalakaha</th><th>Tagbangakaha</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Yam</td><td>Peanut</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Rice</td><td>Peanuts</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Peanuts</td><td>Rice</td><td>Maize</td><td>Maize</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Yam</td><td>Rice</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Peanut</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Rice</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Rice</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Maize</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Cotton</td><td>Vegetables</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Yam</td><td>Cashew nuts</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Maize</td><td>Rice</td><td>Maize</td><td>Peanut</td><td>Sweetpotato</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Maize</td><td>Maize</td><td></td><td>Yam</td><td>Bean</td><td></td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Cotton</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Yam</td><td>Cashew nuts</td></tr></tbody></table>

80 sweetpotato growers and consumers from each district were selected with a balanced proportion between growers and consumers. Sampling was carried out within villages, where four villages were selected in each district. Another random sampling was carried out at the village level, where 20 households were selected in each village to participate in the interviews. This makes a total sample size of 80 participants per district and 160 participants for the two districts. Information such as production constraints and preference traits were considered by each group. At the individual level, data were collected on socio-demographic aspects, food prepared, seed system, sources of supply, techniques for storing cuttings, and user preferences.

## Data analysis

The data from the individual surveys were analyzed descriptively. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess variability of criteria between regions. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to perform the analyses.

<table><caption>**Table 2.** Sweetpotato planting and harvesting system</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">District</th><th colspan="2">Planting system</th><th colspan="2">Harvesting method</th></tr><tr><th>Monoculture (%)</th><th>Intercropping (%)</th><th>Total (%)</th><th>Split (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bouaké</td><td>62.9</td><td>37.1</td><td>33.9</td><td>66.1</td></tr><tr><td>Korhogo</td><td>73.6</td><td>26.4</td><td>100</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Mean</td><td>68.2</td><td>31.7</td><td>66.9</td><td>33.0</td></tr></tbody></table>

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2.** Seedbed type.</figcaption></figure>

# RESULTS

## Demographics

The populations surveyed in the study area were 66% female and 34% male, aged between 18 and 67 years, and mostly illiterate (85.75%). Of the respondents, 49% were between 36 and 53 years old, 30% between 18 and 35 years old, and 21% over 54 years old.

## Role of sweetpotato in farming and food systems

According to the producers, cassava, sweetpotato, yam, groundnut, rice, and maize were the main crops grown in the study areas. In the villages of Dokaha, Oliénou, Naoulakaha, and Attienkro, sweetpotato was ranked first by 28.6%, 25.8%, 22.3%, and 34.8% of the participants respectively (Table 1). In Kanhankro villages, sweetpotato ranks third after yam and cassava, and in Sambalakaha after rice and maize. In the villages of Kanankro and

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3.** Farm size (hectares).</figcaption></figure>

<table><caption>**Table 3.** Use of labor</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Districts</th><th colspan="3">Use of labor</th></tr><tr><th>Family labor family (%)</th><th>Family and hired labor and salaried workers (%)</th><th>Salaried workers (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bouaké</td><td>25.8</td><td>56.5</td><td>17.7</td></tr><tr><td>Korhogo</td><td>25.3</td><td>43.7</td><td>31.0</td></tr><tr><td>Mean</td><td>25.5</td><td>50.1</td><td>24.3</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><caption>**Table 1.** Rank of sweetpotato and other main crops in two districts of Côte d'Ivoire</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Rank</th><th colspan="5">Bouaké villages</th><th colspan="3">Korhogo villages</th></tr><tr><th>Attienkro</th><th>Kahankro</th><th>Kanankro</th><th>Oliénou</th><th>Dokaha</th><th>Naoulakaha</th><th>Sambalakaha</th><th>Tagbangakaha</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Yam</td><td>Peanut</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Rice</td><td>Peanuts</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Cassava</td><td>Peanuts</td><td>Rice</td><td>Maize</td><td>Maize</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Yam</td><td>Rice</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Peanut</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Rice</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Rice</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Sweetpotato</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Maize</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Cotton</td><td>Vegetables</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Yam</td><td>Cashew nuts</td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Maize</td><td>Rice</td><td>Maize</td><td>Peanut</td><td>Sweetpotato</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Maize</td><td>Maize</td><td></td><td>Yam</td><td>Bean</td><td></td><td>Vegetables</td><td>Cotton</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>Yam</td><td>Cashew nuts</td></tr></tbody></table>

80 sweetpotato growers and consumers from each district were selected with a balanced proportion between growers and consumers. Sampling was carried out within villages, where four villages were selected in each district. Another random sampling was carried out at the village level, where 20 households were selected in each village to participate in the interviews. This makes a total sample size of 80 participants per district and 160 participants for the two districts. Information such as production constraints and preference traits were considered by each group. At the individual level, data were collected on socio-demographic aspects, food prepared, seed system, sources of supply, techniques for storing cuttings, and user preferences.

## Data analysis

The data from the individual surveys were analyzed descriptively. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess variability of criteria between regions. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to perform the analyses.

<table><caption>**Table 2.** Sweetpotato planting and harvesting system</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">District</th><th colspan="2">Planting system</th><th colspan="2">Harvesting method</th></tr><tr><th>Monoculture (%)</th><th>Intercropping (%)</th><th>Total (%)</th><th>Split (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bouaké</td><td>62.9</td><td>37.1</td><td>33.9</td><td>66.1</td></tr><tr><td>Korhogo</td><td>73.6</td><td>26.4</td><td>100</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Mean</td><td>68.2</td><td>31.7</td><td>66.9</td><td>33.0</td></tr></tbody></table>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2.** Seedbed type.</figcaption></figure>

# RESULTS

## Demographics

The populations surveyed in the study area were 66% female and 34% male, aged between 18 and 67 years, and mostly illiterate (85.75%). Of the respondents, 49% were between 36 and 53 years old, 30% between 18 and 35 years old, and 21% over 54 years old.

## Role of sweetpotato in farming and food systems

According to the producers, cassava, sweetpotato, yam, groundnut, rice, and maize were the main crops grown in the study areas. In the villages of Dokaha, Oliénou, Naoulakaha, and Attienkro, sweetpotato was ranked first by 28.6%, 25.8%, 22.3%, and 34.8% of the participants respectively (Table 1). In Kanhankro villages, sweetpotato ranks third after yam and cassava, and in Sambalakaha after rice and maize. In the villages of Kanankro and

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3.** Farm size (hectares).</figcaption></figure>

<table><caption>**Table 3.** Use of labor</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Districts</th><th colspan="3">Use of labor</th></tr><tr><th>Family labor family (%)</th><th>Family and hired labor and salaried workers (%)</th><th>Salaried workers (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bouaké</td><td>25.8</td><td>56.5</td><td>17.7</td></tr><tr><td>Korhogo</td><td>25.3</td><td>43.7</td><td>31.0</td></tr><tr><td>Mean</td><td>25.5</td><td>50.1</td><td>24.3</td></tr></tbody></table>
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4.** Conservation techniques for sweetpotato cuttings.</figcaption></figure>

Tagbangakaha, sweetpotato ranked fourth and fifth. In Kanankro, sweetpotato was ranked after groundnut, cassava, and yam. whereas in Tagbangakaha it was ranked after groundnut, maize, rice, and vegetables. The main reasons cited for sweetpotato production are to market in local and regional markets (82.85%) and for self-consumption (17.15%).

## Sweetpotato planting and harvesting system

Monoculture of sweetpotato is practiced by 68.2% of the farmers, compared with 31.7% for intercropping (Table 2). All farmers surveyed in Bouaké district grew sweetpotato on ridges, while in Korhogo 86.2% of the crop was grown on ridges and 12.6% on ridges or mounds (Fig. 2). The area cultivated with sweetpotato varied from 0.12 to 4.0 ha. However, the majority (89.2%) of farmers had sweetpotato on small areas ranging in size from 0.12 to 1.0 ha, with 36.5% of farmers having areas smaller than 0.25 ha. They were followed by those with plots between 0.25 and 0.50 ha (29.7%), and between 0.50 and 1.0 ha (23.0%). Only 10.8% of farmers had an area larger than 1.0 ha (Fig. 3). All farmers in the Korhogo region confirmed that total harvesting was the system most used in the region, whereas 66.1% of farmers used split harvesting, against 33.9% for total harvesting, in Bouaké (Table 2). Most farmers responded that they use labor rather than mechanization for the preparation of plots, the building of ridges, and weeding. Thus, 50.1% of farmers used family and hired labor, against 25.5% for family labor and 24.3% for hired labor (Table 3).

## Source and storage of sweetpotato cuttings for next crop

Across the study area, several techniques are used by farmers to obtain cuttings for production (Fig. 4). To establish a new plantation, producers mainly obtain cuttings from their own old plots left after harvest. This technique is used by 40.9% of the producers surveyed. Farmers may also set aside plots for stem production. The most common of these techniques is to grow sweetpotato cultivars in the field in lowlands (36.2%) or in fenced gardens (35.6%) from cuttings taken the previous season. In cases where the fields are far from the houses, some producers (10.07%)

reported that the stems are taken to the house to ensure permanent surveillance to avoid theft and drying out. Similarly, during the rainy season, regrowth of stems from tuberous root fragments left in the soil after harvesting is observed (1.3%).

In the event of a shortage of stems or when a new cultivar is discovered by another producer, farmers exchange stems. Cuttings are then given or exchanged (32.9%). Other producers purchase cuttings from traders (16.1%). Some farmers claim to have imported sweetpotato cultivars from other regions (Bagoué, Mountains, Tchologo) or from neighboring countries (Mali, Burkina Faso). The purchase of cuttings is not well developed by producers but is indicated by 16.1% of them as a source (Fig. 5). A few people in the surveyed groups have received improved varieties, such as "Irene", "TIB-440060", "Bela" (IIAM-CIP BD004), and "Vita" (NASPOT 9 O) from research institutions and non-governmental organizations.

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 5.** Sources of sweetpotato cuttings. NGO, nongovernmental organization.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4.** Conservation techniques for sweetpotato cuttings.</figcaption></figure>

Tagbangakaha, sweetpotato ranked fourth and fifth. In Kanankro, sweetpotato was ranked after groundnut, cassava, and yam. whereas in Tagbangakaha it was ranked after groundnut, maize, rice, and vegetables. The main reasons cited for sweetpotato production are to market in local and regional markets (82.85%) and for self-consumption (17.15%).

## Sweetpotato planting and harvesting system

Monoculture of sweetpotato is practiced by 68.2% of the farmers, compared with 31.7% for intercropping (Table 2). All farmers surveyed in Bouaké district grew sweetpotato on ridges, while in Korhogo 86.2% of the crop was grown on ridges and 12.6% on ridges or mounds (Fig. 2). The area cultivated with sweetpotato varied from 0.12 to 4.0 ha. However, the majority (89.2%) of farmers had sweetpotato on small areas ranging in size from 0.12 to 1.0 ha, with 36.5% of farmers having areas smaller than 0.25 ha. They were followed by those with plots between 0.25 and 0.50 ha (29.7%), and between 0.50 and 1.0 ha (23.0%). Only 10.8% of farmers had an area larger than 1.0 ha (Fig. 3). All farmers in the Korhogo region confirmed that total harvesting was the system most used in the region, whereas 66.1% of farmers used split harvesting, against 33.9% for total harvesting, in Bouaké (Table 2). Most farmers responded that they use labor rather than mechanization for the preparation of plots, the building of ridges, and weeding. Thus, 50.1% of farmers used family and hired labor, against 25.5% for family labor and 24.3% for hired labor (Table 3).

## Source and storage of sweetpotato cuttings for next crop

Across the study area, several techniques are used by farmers to obtain cuttings for production (Fig. 4). To establish a new plantation, producers mainly obtain cuttings from their own old plots left after harvest. This technique is used by 40.9% of the producers surveyed. Farmers may also set aside plots for stem production. The most common of these techniques is to grow sweetpotato cultivars in the field in lowlands (36.2%) or in fenced gardens (35.6%) from cuttings taken the previous season. In cases where the fields are far from the houses, some producers (10.07%)

reported that the stems are taken to the house to ensure permanent surveillance to avoid theft and drying out. Similarly, during the rainy season, regrowth of stems from tuberous root fragments left in the soil after harvesting is observed (1.3%).

In the event of a shortage of stems or when a new cultivar is discovered by another producer, farmers exchange stems. Cuttings are then given or exchanged (32.9%). Other producers purchase cuttings from traders (16.1%). Some farmers claim to have imported sweetpotato cultivars from other regions (Bagoué, Mountains, Tchologo) or from neighboring countries (Mali, Burkina Faso). The purchase of cuttings is not well developed by producers but is indicated by 16.1% of them as a source (Fig. 5). A few people in the surveyed groups have received improved varieties, such as "Irene", "TIB-440060", "Bela" (IIAM-CIP BD004), and "Vita" (NASPOT 9 O) from research institutions and non-governmental organizations.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 5.** Sources of sweetpotato cuttings. NGO, nongovernmental organization.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 6.** Production constraints of sweetpotato.</figcaption></figure>

## Production and marketing problems

Ten constraints related to sweetpotato production and marketing were identified in central and northern Côte d'Ivoire (Fig. 6). Of these, seven were identified as major constraints, with predominance for the low price of tuberous roots (26.3%). This is followed by low productivity (16.2%), difficulties related to post-harvest conservation (14.5%), scarcity of rainfall (11.6%), poor soil (8.0%), pest pressure (7.7%), and scarcity of labor (4.0%). These constraints depend very significantly on the districts where the crop is

produced and marketed ($\chi^2$ = 190.03 and *P* = 0). The constraints concerning the lack of sales of products, the scarcity of labor, and the difficulties linked to conservation are common to both regions. However, some specificity was also observed. In Bouaké, animal damage and scarcity of farmland are a hindrance to sweetpotato production. On the other hand, in Korhogo, the scarcity of rainfall and poor soils are limiting factors for sweetpotato production.

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 7.** Sweetpotato food products.</figcaption></figure>

## Use of sweetpotato tuberous roots

Fried, mashed, braised, boiled, and pounded sweetpotato (fou-tou) are the main food products consumed in the study areas. In

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 9.** Preferred root skin color.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 8.** Preferred plant type.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 10.** Preferred root shape.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 6.** Production constraints of sweetpotato.</figcaption></figure>

## Production and marketing problems

Ten constraints related to sweetpotato production and marketing were identified in central and northern Côte d'Ivoire (Fig. 6). Of these, seven were identified as major constraints, with predominance for the low price of tuberous roots (26.3%). This is followed by low productivity (16.2%), difficulties related to post-harvest conservation (14.5%), scarcity of rainfall (11.6%), poor soil (8.0%), pest pressure (7.7%), and scarcity of labor (4.0%). These constraints depend very significantly on the districts where the crop is

produced and marketed ($\chi^2$ = 190.03 and $P$ = 0). The constraints concerning the lack of sales of products, the scarcity of labor, and the difficulties linked to conservation are common to both regions. However, some specificity was also observed. In Bouaké, animal damage and scarcity of farmland are a hindrance to sweetpotato production. On the other hand, in Korhogo, the scarcity of rainfall and poor soils are limiting factors for sweetpotato production.

<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 7.** Sweetpotato food products.</figcaption></figure>

## Use of sweetpotato tuberous roots

Fried, mashed, braised, boiled, and pounded sweetpotato (fou-tou) are the main food products consumed in the study areas. In

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 9.** Preferred root skin color.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 8.** Preferred plant type.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 10.** Preferred root shape.</figcaption></figure>
Korhogo, roots are processed into fried (33.5%), boiled (33.5%), porridge (24.8%), or braised (8.3%). In the Bouaké district, chips (36.0%) and porridge (35.2%) are also the most consumed. However, two other products, ragout and pounded sweetpotato, are added to their consumption (Fig. 7).

Preferred characteristics of sweetpotato

The characteristics preferred by growers are presented in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11. For plant type (Fig. 8), 95.4% of the participants preferred the spreading canopy because they covered the soil well

<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Figure 11. Root flesh color.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 12.** Farmers’ preferred sweetpotato traits (percentage of farmers indicating the trait as important).</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 13.** Consumers' preferred sweetpotato traits (percentage of consumers indicating the trait as important).</figcaption></figure>

and reduced the amount of weeding. For skin color (Fig. 9), the majority (68.4%) of respondents preferred purple color, compared with 17.8% who had no preference. In terms of shape (Fig. 10), round was the most preferred (39.4%), followed by oblong (29.3%) and elliptical (27.0%). The oval shape was the least preferred (4.2%). In terms of flesh color (Fig. 11), 58.2% of the farmers grew mainly yellow and white flesh varieties (28.9%) compared with those growing varieties with orange flesh (12.9%).

Criteria of end-users for preferred roots

Twelve preferred traits were identified. There was variation in the importance of the traits from one region to another. In Korhogo, end-users have a preference for varieties that are high yielding, drought resistant, tolerant of low soil fertility, have good post-harvest storage, and sweet (Fig. 12). Dry matter, flesh color, appearance, dry texture, and absence of fiber are of particular interest to the populations of Bouaké (Fig. 13). The most important preference criteria in Bouaké and Korhogo were high yield, sweetness, long post-harvest shelf life, and tolerance to low soil fertility.

DISCUSSION

From the north to the center of the country, women are the main producers of sweetpotatoes. Indeed, in most African societies, women are the main decision-makers and guarantors of family food security.²¹,²² The potential of sweetpotato as a food security and income-generating crop was confirmed in the current study by the combination of participants (farmers, traders, and consumers) identified as being associated with the crop. In the study, the ranking of sweetpotato relative to other crops also demonstrates its importance in food security and its potential as an income generator alongside other roots and tubers, such as cassava²³ and yam,⁶ which are also major crops in Côte d'Ivoire. According to Kays and Horvat,²⁴ the preference for sweetpotato varies according to ethnic origin and geographical location. For example, in the central district of Bouaké, producers prefer to grow sweetpotatoes on mounds (100%), and harvesting is sometimes done in a fractional way. Split harvesting consists of digging up the large roots as and when needed, while also allowing the small roots to continue to develop. In the north, in the district of Korhogo, sweetpotato is grown on ridges and harvesting is done on a piecemeal or total basis depending on the size of the farms. The populations of this area (the Baoule) have always grown root
Korhogo, roots are processed into fried (33.5%), boiled (33.5%), porridge (24.8%), or braised (8.3%). In the Bouaké district, chips (36.0%) and porridge (35.2%) are also the most consumed. However, two other products, ragout and pounded sweetpotato, are added to their consumption (Fig. 7).

Preferred characteristics of sweetpotato

The characteristics preferred by growers are presented in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11. For plant type (Fig. 8), 95.4% of the participants preferred the spreading canopy because they covered the soil well

<figure><img src="image_14.png" /><figcaption>Figure 11. Root flesh color.</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_15.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 12.** Farmers’ preferred sweetpotato traits (percentage of farmers indicating the trait as important).</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_16.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 13.** Consumers' preferred sweetpotato traits (percentage of consumers indicating the trait as important).</figcaption></figure>

and reduced the amount of weeding. For skin color (Fig. 9), the majority (68.4%) of respondents preferred purple color, compared with 17.8% who had no preference. In terms of shape (Fig. 10), round was the most preferred (39.4%), followed by oblong (29.3%) and elliptical (27.0%). The oval shape was the least preferred (4.2%). In terms of flesh color (Fig. 11), 58.2% of the farmers grew mainly yellow and white flesh varieties (28.9%) compared with those growing varieties with orange flesh (12.9%).

Criteria of end-users for preferred roots

Twelve preferred traits were identified. There was variation in the importance of the traits from one region to another. In Korhogo, end-users have a preference for varieties that are high yielding, drought resistant, tolerant of low soil fertility, have good post-harvest storage, and sweet (Fig. 12). Dry matter, flesh color, appearance, dry texture, and absence of fiber are of particular interest to the populations of Bouaké (Fig. 13). The most important preference criteria in Bouaké and Korhogo were high yield, sweetness, long post-harvest shelf life, and tolerance to low soil fertility.

DISCUSSION

From the north to the center of the country, women are the main producers of sweetpotatoes. Indeed, in most African societies, women are the main decision-makers and guarantors of family food security.²¹,²² The potential of sweetpotato as a food security and income-generating crop was confirmed in the current study by the combination of participants (farmers, traders, and consumers) identified as being associated with the crop. In the study, the ranking of sweetpotato relative to other crops also demonstrates its importance in food security and its potential as an income generator alongside other roots and tubers, such as cassava²³ and yam,⁶ which are also major crops in Côte d'Ivoire. According to Kays and Horvat,²⁴ the preference for sweetpotato varies according to ethnic origin and geographical location. For example, in the central district of Bouaké, producers prefer to grow sweetpotatoes on mounds (100%), and harvesting is sometimes done in a fractional way. Split harvesting consists of digging up the large roots as and when needed, while also allowing the small roots to continue to develop. In the north, in the district of Korhogo, sweetpotato is grown on ridges and harvesting is done on a piecemeal or total basis depending on the size of the farms. The populations of this area (the Baoule) have always grown root
and tuber crops such as yam and cassava on mounds, whereas in the north (Korhogo) the Senoufo populations mainly grow sweet-potatoes on ridges, like their cotton and vegetable crops. Our results are at odds with those of Djinet et al.,²² who showed that sweetpotato farmers mainly use ridges to the detriment of ridges in different localities of Chad.

Two systems practices were identified for sweetpotato produc-
tion. The preferred cropping practice of producers is monoculture
(68.2%), followed by intercropping (31.7%). This finding is corrob-
orated by the work of Koussoube et al.²⁵ in a study in Burkina Faso,
where monoculture seemed to be the dominant practice.

Sweetpotato production faces enormous difficulties. Among
them are the scarcity of rainfall, scarcity of labor, poor soils, and
pest pressure. But ultimately these difficulties translate into the
fundamental problem of lower yields, low price, and the difficult
challenge of post-harvest storage. The scarcity of rainfall has been
reported as a major constraint in sweetpotato production in
Benin²⁶ and Chad.²² According to the farmers, the lack of sales
and the problem of root conservation could lead them to aban-
don sweetpotato cultivation in favor of other more profitable
and easily conserved crops.

The results of the survey revealed that sweetpotato is an integral part of the dietary habits of local people who consume the roots.²⁷ Sweetpotato is consumed as porridge, stew, fried, pounded, braised, and mashed. According to Kays and Horvat,²⁴ the preference for sweetpotato varies according to location. Thus, in the north and in the center of Côte d'Ivoire, sweetpotato is consumed as porridge, fried, and braised. Pounded sweetpotato and stew are mainly consumed in the center, whereas mashed potatoes are widely consumed in the north. These differences in consumption could be linked to the meager incomes of producers. In Côte d'Ivoire, rural populations consume more sweetpotatoes in boiled form because frying them takes a lot of time and the oil needed to prepare them is expensive. Moreover, the consumption of mashed sweetpotato by the populations of the center is explained by the dietary habits of these populations, which are mainly made up of pounded yam, cassava, and banana.

End-users use morphological traits to select sweetpotato varie-
ties. Length of the stems, color of the skin and the pulp, and shape
of the roots are used by producers to select varieties for cultiva-
tion.²⁷ Producers, therefore, have preferences on morphological
criteria that deserve to be capitalized on for better adoption of
new varieties. The preference for the purple or red color of the
skin is associated with their resistance during post-harvest han-
dling and transport. According to Hayma²⁸ and Kouassi et al.,²⁷
red-skinned varieties seem to keep better than white-skinned
varieties. They can be kept in the field until they are used because
they are more resistant to weevil attacks and drought.²⁹

High yield (above 7 t/ha), good market value, sweetness, post-harvest preservation, and tolerance to low soil fertility were the most preferred traits of producers. These results are similar to those of Doussoh et al.³⁰ (who cited good market value, tolerance to low soil fertility, and post-harvest conservation) and Dibi et al.⁶ (who noted the importance of sweetness and high yield) in their work on sweet-potato in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire respectively. The introduction or creation of new white, yellow, or orange fleshy varieties with long stems, red or orange roots' skin color with round, oblong, or elliptical shapes, having good agronomic performance and meeting the culinary characteristics of end-users should promote the sweetpotato sector and improve the livelihoods of producers in Côte d'Ivoire. The results of the current study will provide a tool for breeders to ultimately improve the adoption of new varieties. Participatory plant

breeding involving farmers at certain critical stages of the selection
process allows continual refining of selection.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, the Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, and the grant opportunity INV-008567 (formerly OPP1178942) Breeding RTB Products for End User Preferences (RTBfoods), to the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Montpellier, France, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: https://rtbfoods.cirad.fr.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this work.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from
the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

REFERENCES

1. Low JW, Ortiz R, Vandamme E, Andrade M, Biazin B and Grüneberg WJ, Nutrient-dense orange-fleshed sweetpotato: advances in drought-tolerance breeding and understanding of management practices for sustainable next-generation cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa. *Front Sustain Food Syst* **4**:50 (2020).

2 Mukherjee A, Ray R, Pati K and Mukherjee A, Sweetpotato and taro resilient to stresses: sustainable livelihood in fragile zones vulnerable to climate changes. *J Environ Sociobiol* **12**:53–64 (2015).

3 Lebot V, Tropical Root and Tuber Crops: Cassava, Sweet Potato, Yams and Aroids. CABI, Wallingford, UK (2009).

4 Dibi KEB, Kouassi JHM, N'goran KE, Essis BS, N'zue B and Kouakou AM, Effet de différentes doses d'engrais minéraux sur le rendement de deux variétés de patate douce [*Ipomoea batatas* (L) Lam] à Bouaké, centre de la Côte d'Ivoire. *European Scientific Journal* **15**:135–146 (2019).

5 Faostat, Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Data-base [Online] (2020). Available: http://www.fao.org/faostat/fr/#home.

6 Dibi KEB, Essis BS, N'zué B, Kouakou AM, Zohouri GP, Assouan AB et al., Participatory selection of orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in north and north-east Côte d'Ivoire. *Open Agric* **2**:83–90 (2017).

7 Peters Dai, Sweetpotato value chain development in West Africa: matching products with farmer typology, in *Potato and Sweetpotato in Africa: Transforming the Value Chains for Food and Nutrition Security*, ed. by Low J, Nyongesa M, Quinn S and Parker. CABI, Wallingford, UK, pp. 498–507 (2015).

8 Dibi KEB, Kouakou AM, N'zué B and Zohouri GP, Rapport d'activités sur la patate douce. CNRA, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire (2013).

9 Mwanga ROM, Andrade MI, Carey EE, Low JW, Yencho GC and Grüneberg W, Sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* L.), in *Genetic Improvement of Tropical Crops*. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 181–218 (2017).

10 Grüneberg WJ, Ma D, Mwanga ROM, Carey EE, Huamani K, Diaz F et al., Advances in sweetpotato breeding from 1992 to 2012, in *Potato and Sweetpotato in Africa: Transforming the Value Chains for Food and Nutrition Security*, ed. by Low J, Nyongesa M, Quinn S and Parker M. CABI, Wallingford, UK, pp. 3–68 (2015).

11 Kamau J, Melis R, Laing M, Derera J, Shanahan P and Ngugi EC, Farmers participatory selection for early bulking cassava genotypes in semi-arid eastern Kenya. *J Plant Breed Crop Sci* **3**:44–52 (2011).

12 Were WV, Shanahan P, Melis R and Omari OO, Gene action controlling farmer preferred traits in cassava varieties adapted to mid-altitude tropical climatic conditions of western Kenya. *Field Crops Res* **133**: 113–118 (2012).
and tuber crops such as yam and cassava on mounds, whereas in the north (Korhogo) the Senoufo populations mainly grow sweet-potatoes on ridges, like their cotton and vegetable crops. Our results are at odds with those of Djinet et al.,²² who showed that sweetpotato farmers mainly use ridges to the detriment of ridges in different localities of Chad.

Two systems practices were identified for sweetpotato produc-
tion. The preferred cropping practice of producers is monoculture
(68.2%), followed by intercropping (31.7%). This finding is corrob-
orated by the work of Koussoube et al.²⁵ in a study in Burkina Faso,
where monoculture seemed to be the dominant practice.

Sweetpotato production faces enormous difficulties. Among
them are the scarcity of rainfall, scarcity of labor, poor soils, and
pest pressure. But ultimately these difficulties translate into the
fundamental problem of lower yields, low price, and the difficult
challenge of post-harvest storage. The scarcity of rainfall has been
reported as a major constraint in sweetpotato production in
Benin²⁶ and Chad.²² According to the farmers, the lack of sales
and the problem of root conservation could lead them to aban-
don sweetpotato cultivation in favor of other more profitable
and easily conserved crops.

The results of the survey revealed that sweetpotato is an integral part of the dietary habits of local people who consume the roots.²⁷ Sweetpotato is consumed as porridge, stew, fried, pounded, braised, and mashed. According to Kays and Horvat,²⁴ the preference for sweetpotato varies according to location. Thus, in the north and in the center of Côte d'Ivoire, sweetpotato is consumed as porridge, fried, and braised. Pounded sweetpotato and stew are mainly consumed in the center, whereas mashed potatoes are widely consumed in the north. These differences in consumption could be linked to the meager incomes of producers. In Côte d'Ivoire, rural populations consume more sweetpotatoes in boiled form because frying them takes a lot of time and the oil needed to prepare them is expensive. Moreover, the consumption of mashed sweetpotato by the populations of the center is explained by the dietary habits of these populations, which are mainly made up of pounded yam, cassava, and banana.

End-users use morphological traits to select sweetpotato varie-
ties. Length of the stems, color of the skin and the pulp, and shape
of the roots are used by producers to select varieties for cultiva-
tion.²⁷ Producers, therefore, have preferences on morphological
criteria that deserve to be capitalized on for better adoption of
new varieties. The preference for the purple or red color of the
skin is associated with their resistance during post-harvest han-
dling and transport. According to Hayma²⁸ and Kouassi et al.,²⁷
red-skinned varieties seem to keep better than white-skinned
varieties. They can be kept in the field until they are used because
they are more resistant to weevil attacks and drought.²⁹

High yield (above 7 t/ha), good market value, sweetness, post-harvest preservation, and tolerance to low soil fertility were the most preferred traits of producers. These results are similar to those of Doussoh et al.³⁰ (who cited good market value, tolerance to low soil fertility, and post-harvest conservation) and Dibi et al.⁶ (who noted the importance of sweetness and high yield) in their work on sweet-potato in Benin and Côte d'Ivoire respectively. The introduction or creation of new white, yellow, or orange fleshy varieties with long stems, red or orange roots' skin color with round, oblong, or elliptical shapes, having good agronomic performance and meeting the culinary characteristics of end-users should promote the sweetpotato sector and improve the livelihoods of producers in Côte d'Ivoire. The results of the current study will provide a tool for breeders to ultimately improve the adoption of new varieties. Participatory plant

breeding involving farmers at certain critical stages of the selection
process allows continual refining of selection.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, the Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé (UJLoG), Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, and the grant opportunity INV-008567 (formerly OPP1178942) Breeding RTB Products for End User Preferences (RTBfoods), to the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), Montpellier, France, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: https://rtbfoods.cirad.fr.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest in this work.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from
the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

REFERENCES

1. Low JW, Ortiz R, Vandamme E, Andrade M, Biazin B and Grüneberg WJ, Nutrient-dense orange-fleshed sweetpotato: advances in drought-tolerance breeding and understanding of management practices for sustainable next-generation cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa. *Front Sustain Food Syst* **4**:50 (2020).

2 Mukherjee A, Ray R, Pati K and Mukherjee A, Sweetpotato and taro resilient to stresses: sustainable livelihood in fragile zones vulnerable to climate changes. *J Environ Sociobiol* **12**:53–64 (2015).

3 Lebot V, Tropical Root and Tuber Crops: Cassava, Sweet Potato, Yams and Aroids. CABI, Wallingford, UK (2009).

4 Dibi KEB, Kouassi JHM, N'goran KE, Essis BS, N'zue B and Kouakou AM, Effet de différentes doses d'engrais minéraux sur le rendement de deux variétés de patate douce [*Ipomoea batatas* (L) Lam] à Bouaké, centre de la Côte d'Ivoire. *European Scientific Journal* **15**:135–146 (2019).

5 Faostat, Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Data-base [Online] (2020). Available: http://www.fao.org/faostat/fr/#home.

6 Dibi KEB, Essis BS, N'zué B, Kouakou AM, Zohouri GP, Assouan AB et al., Participatory selection of orange-fleshed sweetpotato varieties in north and north-east Côte d'Ivoire. *Open Agric* **2**:83–90 (2017).

7 Peters Dai, Sweetpotato value chain development in West Africa: matching products with farmer typology, in *Potato and Sweetpotato in Africa: Transforming the Value Chains for Food and Nutrition Security*, ed. by Low J, Nyongesa M, Quinn S and Parker. CABI, Wallingford, UK, pp. 498–507 (2015).

8 Dibi KEB, Kouakou AM, N'zué B and Zohouri GP, Rapport d'activités sur la patate douce. CNRA, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire (2013).

9 Mwanga ROM, Andrade MI, Carey EE, Low JW, Yencho GC and Grüneberg W, Sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* L.), in *Genetic Improvement of Tropical Crops*. Springer International Publishing, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 181–218 (2017).

10 Grüneberg WJ, Ma D, Mwanga ROM, Carey EE, Huamani K, Diaz F et al., Advances in sweetpotato breeding from 1992 to 2012, in *Potato and Sweetpotato in Africa: Transforming the Value Chains for Food and Nutrition Security*, ed. by Low J, Nyongesa M, Quinn S and Parker M. CABI, Wallingford, UK, pp. 3–68 (2015).

11 Kamau J, Melis R, Laing M, Derera J, Shanahan P and Ngugi EC, Farmers participatory selection for early bulking cassava genotypes in semi-arid eastern Kenya. *J Plant Breed Crop Sci* **3**:44–52 (2011).

12 Were WV, Shanahan P, Melis R and Omari OO, Gene action controlling farmer preferred traits in cassava varieties adapted to mid-altitude tropical climatic conditions of western Kenya. *Field Crops Res* **133**: 113–118 (2012).
13 Morris ML and Bellon MR, Participatory plant breeding research: opportunities and challenges for the international crop improvement system. *Euphytica* **136**:21–35 (2004).

14 Jenkins M, Shanks CB, Brouwer R and Houghtaling B, Factors affecting farmers' willingness and ability to adopt and retain vitamin A-rich varieties of orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Mozambique. *Food Secur* **10**:1501–1519 (2018).

15 Sugri I, Nutsugah SK, Wiredu AN, Johnson PNT and Aduguba D, Kendaill's concordance analysis of sensory descriptors influencing consumer preference for sweetpotatoes in Ghana. *Am J Food Technol* **7**:142–150 (2012).

16 Nduwumuremyi A, Melis R, Shanahan P and Asiimwe T, Participatory appraisal of preferred traits, production constraints and postharvest challenges for cassava farmers in Rwanda. *Food Secur* **8**:375–388 (2016).

17 Abidin PE, van Eeuwijk FA, Stam P, Struik PC, Zhang DP, Hermann M et al., Evaluation of sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* (L.) Lam.) germplasm from north-eastern Uganda through a farmer participatory approach, in *I International Conference on Sweetpotato: Food and Health for the Future*. ISHS Acta Horticulturae, Vol. **583**. ISHS, Leuven, Belgium, pp. 61–68 (2002).

18 Gasura E, Mashingaidze AB and Mukasa SB, Genetic variability for tuber yield, quality and virus disease complex traits in Uganda sweetpotato germplasm. *African Crop Science Journal* **16**:147–160 (2018).

19 Boko KAN, Cissé G, Koné B and Séri D, Variabilité climatique et changements dans l'environnement à Korhogo en Côte d'Ivoire: mythes ou réalité ? *European Scientific Journal* **12**:158–176 (2016).

20 N'Gbesso MFDP, Fondio L, Coulibaly ND and Kouamé NC, Efficacité symbiotique de cinq souches locales de rhizobiums sur les paramètres de croissance du soja. *Int J Biol Chem Sci* **11**:2327–2340 (2017).

21 Stathers T, Low J, Mwanga ROM, Carey T, David S, Gibson R et al., *Origine and importance of the patate douce*, Vol. 1. Straight Jacket Media Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya, pp. 34–49 (2013).

22 Djinet Al, Koussao S and Ngaryam B, Production and commercialisation de la patate douce [*Ipomoea batatas* (L.) Lam dans les environs de Bongor. *J Appl Biosci* **137**:13985–13996 (2019).

23 N'zué Boni, Caractérisation morphologique, sélection variétale et amélioration du taux de multiplication végétative chez le manioc: *Manihot esculenta* Crantz PhD Thesis. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: Université de Cocody (2007).

24 Kays SJ and Horvat RJ, Comparison of the volatile constituents and sugars of representative Asian, Central American, and North American sweet potatoes, in *Proceedings, Sixth Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops*. International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru, pp. 21–26 (1984).

25 Koussoube S, Traore F, Some K, Binso-Dabire C and Sanon A, Perception paysanne des principales contraintes et pratiques culturelles en production de patate douce au Burkina Faso. *J Appl Biosci* **126**: 12638–12646 (2018).

26 Dossou AI, Loko LY, Adjatin A, Dansi A, Elangovan M, Chaudhary P et al., Diversity, genetic erosion and farmer's preference of sorghum varieties [*Sorghum bicolor* (L.) Moench] in north-eastern Benin. *Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci* **3**:531–552 (2014).

27 Kouassi DEO, N'Zuè B, Bonny BS, Dibi KEB, Essis BS, Koné T et al., Diversity and relationships among morphological characters in the sweetpotato collection of Côte d'Ivoire. *African Crop Science Journal* **27**:375–394 (2019).

28 Hayma J, *Le Stockage des Produits Agricoles Tropicaux*. Agromisa Foundation, Wageningen, Netherlands (2004).

29 Manifesto MM, Costa Tártara SM, Arizio CM, Alvarez MA and Hompanera NR, Analysis of the morphological attributes of a sweetpotato collection. *Ann Appl Biol* **157**:273–281 (2010).

30 Doussoh AM, Dangou JS, Houedjissin SS, Assogba AK and Ahanhanzo C, Analyse des connaissances endogènes et des déterminants de la production de la patate douce [*Ipomoea batatas* (L.)], une culture à haute valeur socioculturelle et économique au Bénin. *Int J Biol Chem Sci* **10**:2596–2616 (2017).
13 Morris ML and Bellon MR, Participatory plant breeding research: opportunities and challenges for the international crop improvement system. *Euphytica* **136**:21–35 (2004).

14 Jenkins M, Shanks CB, Brouwer R and Houghtaling B, Factors affecting farmers' willingness and ability to adopt and retain vitamin A-rich varieties of orange-fleshed sweetpotato in Mozambique. *Food Secur* **10**:1501–1519 (2018).

15 Sugri I, Nutsugah SK, Wiredu AN, Johnson PNT and Aduguba D, Kendaill's concordance analysis of sensory descriptors influencing consumer preference for sweetpotatoes in Ghana. *Am J Food Technol* **7**:142–150 (2012).

16 Nduwumuremyi A, Melis R, Shanahan P and Asiimwe T, Participatory appraisal of preferred traits, production constraints and postharvest challenges for cassava farmers in Rwanda. *Food Secur* **8**:375–388 (2016).

17 Abidin PE, van Eeuwijk FA, Stam P, Struik PC, Zhang DP, Hermann M et al., Evaluation of sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* (L.) Lam.) germplasm from north-eastern Uganda through a farmer participatory approach, in *I International Conference on Sweetpotato: Food and Health for the Future*. ISHS Acta Horticulturae, Vol. **583**. ISHS, Leuven, Belgium, pp. 61–68 (2002).

18 Gasura E, Mashingaidze AB and Mukasa SB, Genetic variability for tuber yield, quality and virus disease complex traits in Uganda sweetpotato germplasm. *African Crop Science Journal* **16**:147–160 (2018).

19 Boko KAN, Cissé G, Koné B and Séri D, Variabilité climatique et changements dans l'environnement à Korhogo en Côte d'Ivoire: mythes ou réalité ? *European Scientific Journal* **12**:158–176 (2016).

20 N'Gbesso MFDP, Fondio L, Coulibaly ND and Kouamé NC, Efficacité symbiotique de cinq souches locales de rhizobiums sur les para-mètres de croissance du soja. *Int J Biol Chem Sci* **11**:2327–2340 (2017).

21 Stathers T, Low J, Mwanga ROM, Carey T, David S, Gibson R et al., *Origine and importance of the patate douce*, Vol. 1. Straight Jacket Media Ltd, Nairobi, Kenya, pp. 34–49 (2013).

22 Djinet Al, Koussao S and Ngaryam B, Production et commercialisation de la patate douce [*Ipomoea batatas* (L.) Lam dans les environs de Bongor. *J Appl Biosci* **137**:13985–13996 (2019).

23 N'zué Boni, Caractérisation morphologique, sélection variétale et amélioration du taux de multiplication végétative chez le manioc: *Manihot esculenta* Crantz PhD Thesis. Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: Université de Cocody (2007).

24 Kays SJ and Horvat RJ, Comparison of the volatile constituents and sugars of representative Asian, Central American, and North American sweet potatoes, in *Proceedings, Sixth Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops*. International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru, pp. 21–26 (1984).

25 Koussoube S, Traore F, Some K, Binso-Dabire C and Sanon A, Perception paysanne des principales contraintes et pratiques culturelles en production de patate douce au Burkina Faso. *J Appl Biosci* **126**: 12638–12646 (2018).

26 Dossou AI, Loko LY, Adjatin A, Dansi A, Elangovan M, Chaudhary P et al., Diversity, genetic erosion and farmer's preference of sorghum varieties [*Sorghum bicolor* (L.) Moench] in north-eastern Benin. *Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci* **3**:531–552 (2014).

27 Kouassi DEO, N'Zuè B, Bonny BS, Dibi KEB, Essis BS, Koné T et al., Diversity and relationships among morphological characters in the sweetpotato collection of Côte d'Ivoire. *African Crop Science Journal* **27**:375–394 (2019).

28 Hayma J, *Le Stockage des Produits Agricoles Tropicaux*. Agromisa Foundation, Wageningen, Netherlands (2004).

29 Manifesto MM, Costa Tártara SM, Arizio CM, Alvarez MA and Hompanera NR, Analysis of the morphological attributes of a sweet-potato collection. *Ann Appl Biol* **157**:273–281 (2010).

30 Doussoh AM, Dangou JS, Houedjissin SS, Assogba AK and Ahanhanzo C, Analyse des connaissances endogènes et des déterminants de la production de la patate douce [*Ipomoea batatas* (L.)], une culture à haute valeur socioculturelle et économique au Bénin. *Int J Biol Chem Sci* **10**:2596–2616 (2017).