Ethno-botanical Studies of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) in Anambra State, Nigeria: Cultural Uses, Traditional Storage Systems and Indigenous Conservation Knowledge
Afam-Ezeaku, Chikaodili Eziamaka *
Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Okigbo, Raphael Nnajiofor
Department of Botany, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study investigated the ethno-botanical knowledge, cultural significance, cultivation practices, post-harvest handling systems, conservation strategies, and awareness of biological control options for sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) in Anambra State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling approach was adopted, and 600 structured questionnaires were distributed across the three senatorial zones—Anambra State (Anambra North, Anambra Central, and Anambra South)—with 348 valid responses retrieved (60%). Data were complemented with interviews, public meetings, field observations, and herbarium documentation.
Findings revealed that sweet potato production is predominantly smallholder and subsistence-oriented, with over 77% of farmers cultivating less than three acres. Traditional mound (51.7%) and ridge (34.5%) planting methods were widely practiced, alongside mixed use of organic manure (39.9%) and chemical fertilizers (43.4%). Manual harvesting (58.1%) and storage in sacks or barns (63.4% combined) were common, contributing to significant post-harvest losses. Storage was identified as the most critical stage for rot incidence (44.3%), with humidity (31.9%) and insect infestation (28.4%) being major preservation challenges.
Ethno-botanical analysis showed that sweet potato plays a central role in household food security (89.7%) and holds cultural relevance in ceremonies, festivals, and traditional medicine. Economically, 35.6% of respondents rely on sweet potato as a primary income source, though most derive less than 50% of their income from it. Despite low awareness of bio-fungicides (29.3%) and Lactobacillus species (27.6%), farmers demonstrated strong willingness (48.3%) to adopt biological control technologies if proven effective and accessible.
The study highlights the intersection of indigenous knowledge, cultural practices, and post-harvest challenges, underscoring the potential of integrating traditional systems with environmentally sustainable bio-fungicide technologies to reduce losses, improve income, and strengthen food security in southeastern Nigeria.
Keywords: Sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas, ethnobotany, indigenous knowledge, traditional storage systems, post-harvest management, agrobiodiversity conservation, food security