PROJECT PROPOSAL ON ENHANCING

THE VARIETY AND QUALITY OF SWEET POTATO IN

SELECTED AREA OF MIMBALOT, BURU-UN, ILIGAN CITY

By: Embolode, Christian June L.

A Project Proposal Submitted to

the Adviser of Agri-Fishery
Prof. Violeta Antigo

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for Activity 6

BTLED- IA
 Republic of the Philippines
Mindanao State University
Maigo School of Arts and Trades
Lanao del Norte

I. Background and Context

Mimbalot is located at the upper portion of Buru-un here in Iligan

City this sitio\barangay is composed of 40% population based on the latest

CENSUS in 2020. This barangay is known for its cassava and sweet potato

farm, though it is not massive compared to other plantation but still it produces a

beautiful harvest particularly in cassava and sweet potato. The total area of the

farm is roughly 5 hectares and this 5 hectares are divided into two parts, the

sweet potato farm that measured 500 square-meter and the cassava that is in 1

hectare. However the 500 square meters of sweet potato area need to be

expanded into 4 Hectares so that there will be a good production and it will

establish and strengthen the quality of sweet potato through product

commercialization and market‐driven innovations.

The sweet potato in the said area is not the typical sweet potato you

can see in the market. It is much smaller compared to what we have seen. That

is why this project is proposed to enhance the variety and quality of sweet

potato in the Mimbalot. The purpose of sweet potato in Mimbalot is only for

human consumption. However this barangay will gain a profit of it if this

proposal will become their basis in improving the area and the variety of the

said crop.
II. Problems to be Addressed

The following are the problems for the current situation here in

Mimbalot farm. This project proposal will endeavor to solve these problems.

A. Stoney Area

Stoney area is not an ideal for the sweet potato production.

B. Old Variety Planting Material

The variety of sweet potato here is not for commercial purposes but

rather than for human consumption only. It is better if the seedlings will

become upgraded to make it more productive

C. Insufficient Farmers

The quantity of farmers is insufficient that is why it became a

problem ‘cause sooner the production might become time consuming.

D. Farmers Farming Experience

Other farmers here have no sufficient experience when it comes to

farming.

Activities taken up in the Expansion Project

 Plant Production at Research Station

Vines are produced in the primary nurseries at Agricultural Departmental

farms at Iligan City

 Each year square meter has been taken up for production of vines in

primary nurseries

 Plant / Vine Production at Farmers Field

 The vines produced from the primary nurseries are supplied to the farmers

for multiplication of vines.

III. Aims and Objectives

The proposed project has three main objectives;

1. To enhance the area expansion of improved sweet potato varieties with

desired nutrition, utilization, and agronomic practices.

2. To develop seed system to achieve self‐sufficiency in planting material

production.

3. To establish and strengthen sweet potato value chains through product

commercialization and market‐driven innovations.

IV.Strategy

The following are the strategy for enhancing the quality of sweet

potato and having a good harvest.

A. Enhancing the land is one of the basic task that needs to be addressed.

The above explanation mentioned that the area has a lot of massive

stones in which it is not ideal in planting sweet potato. The first step here

is to flatten the land in order to become widen.

B. Buying a new variety of sweet potato is indeed important. In order to

have a good quality product it must be conform with the competition in

the market and you can only do that if your product is updated.

C. After having a new variety and good quality land the third thing to do is

hiring farmers. Hiring farmers also important because you can do the task
 al by yourself you need worker to do the task. The more workers you will

have the faster the production is.

D. Lastly, you need to educate your farmers on how to do the process. We

cant deny the fact that they have also the knowledge on farming however

what we want to manifest it to broaden their knowledge through

educating them on the new trends .

V.Targeted beneficiary

The number target of this project is to provide work for those who

haven’t. Here in Mimbalot Buru-un,Iligan City there are lots of people who have

not work due to lacking of educational background, with the help of this

proposed project it provides opportunity to them to gain income and at the

same time to gain knowledge particularly on farming and if they want to build

their own farm of course they have now the idea on how to do it.

VI. Outcomes of the said Project

A. The area will flatten and be widen. It would become ideal for having a good

production in sweet potato due to its perfect land area

B. The farm will have an updated variety of sweet potato. Through this the

product will become ideal for commercialization and market driven.

C. The quantity of farmer will no longer be shorten. The process of farming

becomes easier and time efficient due to its manpower.

D. The farmer will acquire knowledge particularly on stratifying things specially

for cultivation of sweet potato.

E. Provides opportunity to people here in Mimbalot.

 VII. Finance

Table 1.1 The table below shows the expenses for addressing the Problem

Problem no. Possible Solution Estimated Cost Quantity

Problem n0.1 Backhoe P 8000 1 backhoe
Problem no.2 Buying new Variety P10,000 300kg per H.
Problem no. 3 Hire farmers Salary every Harvest 20 people

Problem no.4 Farming Demonstration P500 per day for 2 people

instructor
Total: 22,500 Estimated( Partial Cost)

Table 1.2 About the Crop

Sweet Potato
Quantity of Planting Materials Cost
300kg per hectare P10000

Fertilizer Quantity Total

“Pure worm 10 Sacks P20000
organic casting”
Pesticides Quanity Total
InsectRapture10E 25 liters P5000
C (4hectare) Total:
P25k

 There was a study about sweet potato in February 11, 2019 by PHL sweet potato farmers

accoding to Mr. Mohantly (Farm owner ) he said that a sweet potato farmer , on average

can earn around P100,000 from one hectare of land in 100 days

Table 1.3 Target Market

Income per hectare Total area Number of days Total Income

P100,00 4 hectares 100days P400,000 in
100 days
 Table 1.4 Expenses and Income (Income minus Expenses)

Expenses
22k for improving the farm(Excluded the manpower)
25k for farming including the fertilizers
(Income minus Expenses )Total: P100 per 100days

The area is composed of 4 hectares, the strategy here for marketing is that the

crops will be send to market by batch ( depending upon the demands of the market). We

can only do that by simply strategizing things. We would not plat all the seedlings for one

harvest , there should be an alternate process. The first two weeks should be the time of

planting for batch no 1 in an area of 1 hectare , the next 2 weeks is for batch no 2 with

an area of 1 hectare , The third 2-week is for batch no 3 with an area of 1 hectare , lastly

is for the fourth 2-week is for the batch no 4 with an area of 1 hectare. This is the

process and the strategy for planting because if we would plant all of the seedlings for a

one batch the crops will be over in quantity to the point where other sweet potato will

become useless because of the target numbers of the market. The crops should be

accordance the demand in the market so that all of the harvested crops will be utilize.

Planting Strategy Marketing Strategy

st st
1 Two-week Batch No1(Seedlings) 1 100 days Harvest of the 1st
batch
2nd Two-week Batch No2 2nd 100 days Harvest of the 2nd
batch
3rd Two-week Batch No3 3rd 100 days Harvest of the 3rd
batch
4th Two-week Batch No4 4th 100 days Harvest of the 4th
Batch
 PROJECT PROPOSAL ON
AREA EXPANSION OF SWEET POTATO
IN
DIST-MAYURBAHANJI,KEONJHAR,DEOGARH,BOUDH
,ANGUL AND BOLANGIR

UNDER RASTRIYA KRISHI VIAKSH YOJANA

2018-2019
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Odisha is located along the east coast of India and roughly 70% of the
population lives in villages. The total area under Vegetable crops is 664087 ha
and the production is 9036896 MT.

Odisha has a tropical monsoon climate, where annual rainfall varies from
1,140 to 1,716 mm, and increases from west to east. It has three main
seasons: summer (March–June), rainy (July–October), and winter
(September–February). Odisha is also one of the states most prone to and
affected by climate change. About 70% of Odisha’s soils in cultivated areas are
acidic, and nutrient imbalances are major impediments to crop production.
Remedial measures for soil nutrient replenishment or upgrade, as well as
educating farmers on the right cropping pattern that suits the agro‐climactic
zones of Odisha, could help improve crop production in the state.

Root and tuber crops like cassava, sweet potato, yam bean, yams, etc can
strengthen nutritional health at affordable prices. Tuber crops are popular
mostly among the tribal populations of Odisha and are collected from the
forest during the lean period. Odisha has the largest area under sweet potato
cultivation with production of 381267 MT from 40410 hectares of land. The
orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) like; Bhu Sona and Bidhan Jyoti are
exceptionally high nutritional value, and the crop can contribute significant
 gains in meeting nutritional demand and addressing food security for the
tribal peoples with improved varieties and proper management practices.

 Sweet potato in Odisha

Sweet potato is an important crop planted and consumed in the eastern
region of India, but the limited availability of beta‐carotene‐rich sweet
potato (OFSP) is a major obstacle for its consumption in nutrient‐deficient
areas. Sweet potato is grown both in Kharif (wet southwest monsoon) and
Rabi (dry post‐monsoon) seasons in India,

There are early‐maturing varieties of tubers that can be used in several ways
that provide opportunities to boost both nutritional health and incomes:
ƒ For human consumption as well as cattle feed
ƒ High vitamin A content of OFSP
ƒ Starch from the tubers
ƒ Preparation of noodles, chips, jams, and salads
ƒ Flour for baked foods
ƒ Vines as a cheap source of fodder
ƒ Tender leaves for culinary purposes.

2. Problems to be addressed
The climatic and soil condition in most parts of Odisha is congenial for dry‐land
crops like cassava, sweet potato, yam bean and yam. However, their potential
has never been fully realized. This is primarily due to limitations in farmers’
field situations, especially the lack of formal seed systems and land‐holding
size of resource‐poor farmers that need to be corrected. The Major Constraints
are;

A. Use of poor‐quality planting material. This is the major limiting factor for
increased sweet potato production in these areas. A low yield of sweet
potato is without a doubt due to the use of poor quality planting materials.
The major cause for this poor quality is the prevalence of infectious
diseases, especially those caused by viruses, which are transmitted and
maintained in the vine from one season to the next. Because of the
vegetative nature of sweet potato reproduction, infectious diseases
accumulate in the vine and are thus perpetuated over time, causing the crop
to degenerate. Almost all viruses that attack sweet potato are spread
through infected planting materials (vine cutting and storage roots). Because
disease symptoms are usually invisible, infected planting materials are a
ready source of infection. At present, the only way for farmers to avoid virus
problems is by planting disease‐free “seed.”
B. Poor agronomic practices. In addition to the use of poor quality planting
material, poor agronomic practices significantly reduce the yield of sweet
 potato. Its production could easily be more than doubled if improved
varieties are grown, modern agronomic methods followed, and best
multiplication practices used that can help ensure that vines are available all
the year round.
C. Traditional practices. Most farmers in the region, especially small‐ and
medium‐size farmers, follow traditional methods of farming. They do not
use all of the technologies currently available for successful sweet potato
cropping. Improved technical knowledge is not as widespread as it should
be.
D. Limited use of improved variety. Farmers grow a local cultivar, which has a
long duration, poor yields, and lacks desirable characteristics for processing.
Late harvest increases the risk of weevil infestation, which significantly
influences low sweetpotato productivity in these areas. Better organized
extension activities would help to disseminate better variety in farmers’
fields.
E. Weak extension service and poor linkage between research and extension
(R&E). Research institutions have generated good results that in most cases
have not been used properly by the majority of farmers. This is primarily due
to the poor linkage between R&E. The institutional capacity for using these
linkage mechanisms is still very weak in these areas.
F. Low level of education among farmers.Limited education of farmers
appears to be a basic problem in the technology transfer process. A more
scientific approach to farmers, considering their problems and their
limitations, is needed, such as through farmer field schools.

To popularize Sweet Potato in Odisha a project in the name of Generating

Advances in Income and Nutrition through Sweet Potato (GAINS) was implemented
from 2013‐14 to 2016‐17 through International Potato Centre (CIP), Bhubaneswar
supported by Directorate of Horticulture under RKVY funding in four Districts
namely Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Koraput and Sundargarh.

Sweet Potato Demonstration

Farmers are provided with subsidy for Sweet potato cultivation. The achievement
year wise in the four districts is as follows;
Sl. No Year Districts (ha) Total
hectares
Ganjam Koraput Dhenkanal Sundargarh

Phy Phy. Phy. Phy. Phy.

1 2013‐2014 40 25 20 20 105
2 2014‐2015 80 50 50 50 230
3 2015‐2016 120 100 120 100 440
4 2016‐2017 150 125 150 125 550
Total 390 300 340 295 1325
 • Campaigning for Sweet Potato cultivation was promoted
• To improve the income, Intercropping with Legume was promoted.
• For Post‐harvest processing and Marketing efforts are being taken.
• For Capacity building, training, workshop, Exposure Visit etc were
conducted.
• Equipment and accessories are provided for better agronomic
practices.

Total Cost in Lakh Norms

Sl.No Components Unit Adopted
2018‐19 2019‐20 Total

1 Nursery ha 18 18 36 CTCRI
2 Demonstration ha 48 48 96 MIDH
Training within District ATMA
3 Nos. 6 6
(NonResidential) 12
4 Exposure Visit inside State Nos. 7.2 7.2 14.4 ATMA
5 Provision of Processing Nos. 36 36 72 MIDH
Machinery (Small Scale)
6 Monitoring by CTCRI and LS 4.2 4.2 8.4 LS
Training of technicians
7 Contingency (1%) LS 1.25 1.25 2.5 LS
Total 120.65 120.65 241.3

Outcomes of the GAINS project:

• Two varieties, namely Kanjangad and BidhanJyothi (OFSP) were
widely popularized due to better growing and nutritious
characteristics as compared to existing local or other introduced
varieties.
• About 6000 beneficiaries reached directly through GAINS project
interventions and farmers who grow nutritious sweetpotato.
• Multiplication of varieties organized in a systematic and sustainable
way which, provided sufficient key planting material to farmer’s field
nurseries for demonstrations.
• Orange fleshed sweetpotato rich in vitamin A has been introduced
on a large scale for the first time for better nutrition and income
generation.
• The multiplied planting material was carefully distributed to the
different target districts and achieved an area of 1325 ha after the
4year project period.
 • Vigorous trainings on innovative production practices have
encouraged farmers to cultivate sweetpotato.

A new proposal is now submitted for area expansion and other allied activities
in another 6 districts like; Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Deogarh, Boudh, Angul and
Bolangir.

3. Aims and Objectives

The proposed project has three main objectives;
¾ To enhance the area expansion of improved sweet potato varieties with
desired nutrition, utilization, and agronomic practices.
¾ To develop seed system to achieve self‐sufficiency in planting material
production.
¾ To establish and strengthen sweet potato value chains through product
commercialization and market‐driven innovations.

4. Strategy;
¾ The 6 districts to be covered for area expansion are Mayurbhanj,
Keonjhar, Deogarh, Boudh, Angul and Bolangir districts.
¾ 40ha will be covered each year from 2018‐19 to 2019‐20 totaling 480 ha.
for area expansion.
¾ Subsidy will be provided to the farmers @ Rs. 20,000/ha. as per MIDH
guideline for undertaking demonstration.
Targeted Beneficiary
The beneficiaries will be selected among the interested farmers having a
minimum land holding of 1Ac. and having irrigation facilities in sweet potato
potential area. Tribal area will be preferred. Potential and suitable blocks of
the project districts will be selected. Selection of blocks, villages, and
farmers will be done by the departmental staff. The clusters will be selected
based on;
a) High incidence of poverty, malnutrition, and resource‐limited
agricultural environments
b) Sweet potato is traditionally grown as a food crop and/or alternative
staple to cereals in major sweet potato growing districts.
Outcomes
• Capacity strengthening: Farmers, women, and youth trained on
various aspects of sweet potato production and utilization. Depending
on the average land‐holding pattern of the local farmers, the area of
cultivation/expansion could be assessed.
• Access to improved varieties: Planting materials of improved varieties
are available, in desired quantity and quality, to at least 80% of sweet
potato farmers.
• Crop performance: On‐farm yield average of sweet potato and other
crops increased 25%.
• Food consumption: Year‐round sweet potato availability and
consumption rate per capita increased 100%.