Root Crops: Cassava, Sweet Potato, and Yam

Root crops form a vital component of Tanzania’s food system, particularly for rural households in semi-arid and marginal environments where cereals often fail. Cassava, sweet potato, and yam are prioritized root crops under the cluster, with their research being led by TARI-Ukiriguru. The focus of research at Ukiriguru includes the development of improved varieties that are tolerant to major biotic stresses such as cassava mosaic disease (CMD), cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), and sweet potato virus diseases, as well as abiotic stresses like drought. In addition, breeding programs at TARI-Ukiriguru aim to improve yield potential, nutritional quality (e.g., biofortification with provitamin A in sweet potato), and adaptation to different agro-ecologies.

Innovations on these crops also extend to post-harvest handling and processing technologies. For cassava, innovations such as improved drying methods, mechanized chipping, and flour processing have been promoted to enhance shelf life and marketability. In sweet potato, processing into flour, chips, and composite bakery products has created new income opportunities for farmers and traders. Research on yams and cocoyams, although less developed, is also receiving attention in terms of germplasm collection, evaluation, and promotion as alternative staples to enhance dietary diversity.

Tuber Crops: Potato and Cocoyam

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the most important tuber crop in Tanzania, ranking among the leading sources of household income and national food supply in highland regions. Research on potato is led by TARI-Uyole and TARI-Kifyulilo, where breeding and agronomic trials focus on improving productivity, disease resistance, and adaptability of varieties to highland agro-ecologies. Special emphasis has been placed on seed systems, where TARI has introduced and promoted clean seed multiplication techniques, including rapid multiplication, apical cuttings, and aeroponics. These innovations aim to address the chronic challenge of poor-quality seed tubers that constrain productivity among smallholder farmers.

Banana

Banana (Musa spp.) is a staple and cash crop in several regions of Tanzania, contributing significantly to food security and household income. Research on bananas is distributed across TARI-Maluku (Kagera), TARI-Tengeru (Arusha), and TARI-Uyole (Mbeya). Each of these centers plays a complementary role in advancing banana research in its respective agro-ecological zone. Key research innovations include breeding and evaluation of varieties resistant to Banana Bacterial Wilt (BXW) and Fusarium wilt (Panama disease), which have severely constrained production in many regions. Tissue culture technology has been scaled up as an innovation for the production of clean planting materials, ensuring farmers access high-quality, disease-free suckers. In addition, innovations in post-harvest handling and value addition, such as banana flour, chips, wine, and juice, are being promoted to diversify uses and strengthen market opportunities for banana growers.