DOI: 10.21223/fm3imx
title: Dataset for: Scaling Pathways for Accelerating Adoption of the Sweetpotato Triple S (Storage in Sand and Sprouting) Technology in Dry Areas of Mozambique

description: "The Triple S technology has been introduced and validated in 10 SSA countries and scaled in 2 Sub-Saharan African countries. Out of 10 countries, this research project has identified Mozambique due to the high levels of climate variability and extreme weather events (i.e. droughts, floods, and tropical cyclones). This creates challenges for farmers to access improved quality planting materials on time during planting time after a long dry season. We focused on Manica Province, which face prolonged drought seasons. Sweetpotato is among the top five most important food crops in Manica province, and it is grown almost exclusively by smallholder farmers. Previous CIP research studies had validated five released varieties suitable for Manica province for use under Triple S (i.e., Irene, Namanga, Sumaia, Delvia and Alisha). We had initially targeted up to four districts in the province in which to potentially conduct our pilot research, but challenges due to civil conflict in three of these districts (Macate, Machaze, and Gondola districts) restricted our ability to conduct pilot activities there. We therefore focused our pilot phase of the survey focused only at Mossurize district (Figure 1). The households surveyed in Mossurize district spread across the district (Figure 2). We randomly sampled 17 villages out of the 37 villages slated to participate in Triple S training with support from the USAID-funded CIP project in Mossurize district. We assigned 10 villages to the category where extension officers would take a lead on video-enabled Triple S training, and the other 7 villages would be led by community leaders. Regarding community members involvement during the extension officer-led training program, though extension officer takes his/her lead during the training but arrangement in the ground made by the community members as extension officers requires support from the community members. Total 276 samples surveyed from 17 villages in Mossurize district during Sept-Oct 2021. The video-enabled Triple S training were conducted in four stages in the video, with season-specific guidance at each stage in local language . These stages are: 1) identification of healthy plant from which roots for Triple S will be obtained; 2) selection of healthy roots of the right size and how to store them in the sand; and 3) Monitoring the roots every 2 weeks, to remove any rotten roots and unwanted sprouts; and 4) Preparation of seed bed 6-8 weeks before the main rains are expected; planting sprouted roots in the seed bed and irrigating twice a week to get quality planting material for the planting season. The conventional demonstration arm of our study was instead relying on 1-2 selected farmers within each village who has established Triple S in his/her compound, allowing community members to visit during facilitated extension sessions. In addition, we also tested the effectiveness of nutritional training helping women and men understand why and how their families may prepare and consume OFSP. Because production and consumption of OFSP are intertwined for most households, encouraging consumption is likely to also encourage take-up of improved ways to produce OFSP, especially via Triple S. The nutritional training covers the health benefits of OFSP consumption—especially for children—as well as a variety of preparations. Ideally, the training will be conducted by community partners (especially women), who will themselves be trained by nutrition specialists associated with the USAID project. Due to COVID pandemic, the pilot phase found safest and most feasible process for this training. The study focused samples from list of farmers who participated in the video enabled training program. We were not able to interview farmers who were not able to participate in the training program due to logistical reasons as many areas were restricted to move, however, we manage to conduct a survey with the farmers to whom we have invited for the video enabled training program with a permission from local government. Therefore, in the study, all farmers were participated in the video-enabled Triple S training program. The survey questionnaire was digitalized and data were collected through ODK platform and transferred into STATA 17.0 for the data analysis. The study analysed results with descriptive statistics using a statistical software called STATA 17.0."