This archive report was first published on 11 January 2020.
January 11, 2020
Conserve Cultivars to Boost Arrowroot Yields ¶
Arrowroot, a perennial root crop commonly known as nduma, is a vital food source in Kenya. It grows in marshy areas and takes six to nine months to mature.
The crop is rich in starch, vitamins A, B, C, folic acid, and riboflavin, making it a nutritious addition to meals. Its corms are usually baked, roasted, or boiled, while its leaves are used as vegetables.
However, arrowroot faces significant challenges in mass cultivar maintenance, development, and improvement. Unlike other root crops like cassava and sweet potato, arrowroot lacks a robust system for conserving and improving its cultivars.
This has led to the erosion of key genetic traits, as farmers largely select cultivars based on taste, yield, root color, and size of the plant. They discard the poor ones, resulting in the loss of valuable genetic information.
Furthermore, arrowroot suckers are bulky and difficult to transport over long distances, leading to low germination rates. This makes it challenging for farmers to access high-quality planting materials.
Researchers at the National Genebank of Kenya in Muguga are working to address these challenges. They collect, conserve, multiply, and characterize seed crop and forage gene resources threatened by genetic erosion.
Experienced farmers play a crucial role in improving yield and mass production of arrowroot. Establishing in situ conservation and improvement centers at the national, regional, county, and divisional levels can help achieve this goal.
These centers can be farmer fields, community fields, or research stations where farmers can access planting materials and receive skills training. This would lead to the propagation of uniform cultivars, resulting in similar taste and good harvests.
Moreover, establishing national, regional, or local frameworks, including organizations dedicated to the collection, conservation, and improvement of arrowroot, is essential. These frameworks will facilitate material transfer between regions and ensure value-addition to the harvested crop for markets in and outside the country.
