The newly introduced sweet potato is rich in vitamins A and C and contains anthocyanins, pigments with antioxidant properties, as researchers prepare to distribute disease-free planting vines to farmers from March.
The National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) has launched a purple sweet potato variety rich in antioxidants and vitamins A and C, in a move aimed at improving household nutrition and strengthening food security.
The variety was launched by Agriculture Minister Frank Tumwebaze on Friday during celebrations marking World Food Day and 100 years of agricultural research at the Mbarara Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MBAZARDI).
The event brought together regional leaders, agricultural researchers and smallholder farmers to showcase innovations intended to improve food security and promote climate-resilient agriculture.
Speaking at the launch, Tumwebaze emphasised the role of improved crop varieties in addressing malnutrition, supporting public health and increasing farmers’ incomes.
“Integrating high-value, nutrient-rich crops into our national farming systems directly aligns with the government's agenda to eradicate malnutrition and boost farmer incomes,” Tumwebaze said.
He described the new variety as an opportunity to improve nutrition and encouraged researchers to develop innovations that respond to the practical needs of communities.
“This new purple sweet potato is not merely food—it is preventative medicine on a plate that will help safeguard our communities against dietary deficiencies and non-communicable diseases like cancer. We need to start asking ourselves and do research that helps our people not just on paper,” he added.
The sweet potato’s deep purple colour comes from anthocyanins, natural pigments with antioxidant properties. The variety also contains vitamins A and C, nutrients that support normal vision, immune function and other essential bodily processes.
Although research has explored the potential health benefits of anthocyanins, their presence in the sweet potato does not establish that eating the crop prevents or treats cancer. Its nutritional value, however, could make it a useful addition to a varied diet.
Dr Martin Ameu, a plant breeder at NARO, told Nile Post that the variety had been developed to combine nutritional value with high yield potential and resilience to challenging climatic conditions.
He said preparations were under way to make clean, disease-free planting vines available to farmers from March 2027 through MBAZARDI and district agricultural extension workers.
“Our team has bred this variety for high yield potential, climate resilience, and maximum nutritional value. Farmers will not have to wait long. Soon, by March, clean and disease-free potato vines will be readily accessible to regional farmers through MBAZARDI and district extension workers, ensuring a seamless distribution network across local communities,” Ameu said.
The planned distribution is expected to give farmers access to planting material as the research organisation seeks to expand the adoption of the new variety.
The launch comes as MBAZARDI marks 100 years of agricultural research, highlighting efforts to develop crop varieties that can improve nutrition, support rural livelihoods and strengthen Uganda’s food production systems.