Demonstrations of sweet potato varieties were carried out on farmers’ field in Habru district under sedenie irrigation scheme, which is one of the irrigation site established in by International Fund Agriculture Development Project (IFAD). Habru District is geographically situated at approximately 11°32'58.00"N latitude and 39°48'58.89"E longitude. Its altitude ranges from 1760 to 2100 meters above sea level, with average annual rainfall and temperature of 750–1000 mm and 15–29 °C, respectively (HWoA 2025).

Experimental sites and host farmers were selected in collaboration with the district and kebele offices of agriculture. Host farmers were chosen based on their willingness to provide land for the experiment and the suitability of their soil for conducting the trials. Before implementation, training was provided to agricultural experts and development agents on the specific field activities to be carried out. The experiments were conducted on farmers’ fields. The two orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (i.e., Birtukanie and Jari varieties) were planted on six (6) host farmers’ fields. The experiment was laid 10 m*10 m plot size for each variety with recommended agronomic spacing of 1 m between ridges and 0.3 m within plants.

The Farmers–Research–Extension Group (FREG) approach was employed to promote sweet potato varieties through active stakeholder engagement in problem identification, joint planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of method and result demonstration activities. The innovation platform brought together farmers, researchers, and agricultural experts from district to kebele levels, along with other relevant stakeholders, to ensure collaborative learning and decision-making (Chimdo 2008; JICA 2015). In the Sedeni irrigation scheme, a FREG comprising 33 members of farmers was established and actively involved throughout the sweet potato varieties demonstration. Although the group participated collectively, the demonstration trials were conducted on six selected host farmers’ fields to facilitate effective management and observation. To enhance coordination and communication, the farmers organized themselves and elected a chairperson and a secretary following discussions with a multidisciplinary research and extension team on the objectives and implementation procedures of the activity.

Field days and field visits were conducted at the vegetative growth stage and physiological maturity of the sweet potato varieties. Host farmers, FREG members, and neighbouring farmers jointly evaluated the performance of the demonstrated varieties, contributing to informed selection and wider promotion of improved sweet potato technologies through the FREG approach.

Yield and yield parameters were collected from samples of host farmers’ plots at each representative location. Measurements included a sensitive balance for measuring root weight, total root yield, and simple counting for the number of roots per plant. The biological data were obtained from composite samples taken from randomly selected representative host farmer plots. In addition, farmers’ preferences and perceptions of the evaluated sweet potato varieties were assessed using a five-point Likert scale (1=excellent, 2=very good, 3=medium, 4=very poor, 5=poor) statements.

The yield and yield-related component data were analyzed using a statistical analysis of a t-test, which was done via Gen Stat version 17. Farmers’ preferences and perceptions of the demonstrated sweet potato varieties were assessed using a five-point Likert scale, analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII). To determine the relative importance and ranking of the evaluation criteria from the farmers’ perspective, the Relative Importance Index (RII) was computed by using the RII Equation (Odeh and Battaineh 2002; Gunduz et al. 2013; Muhwezi and Otim 2014).

RII = Σ W AxN

Where RII=Relative importance index, W=Weight given to each criterion by the respondents from (1-Excellent to 5-Very Poor), A= highest weight (i.e., 5 in this case), and N=the total number of respondents.

Training is one of the important tools for creating awareness and promoting agricultural technology (Yokamo 2020). Package training on sweet potato production packages was given for Host farmers, woreda agricultural expert and development agents. They are the major actors for the successful implementation of the activity. The training content includes information about the sweet potato production package, disease and pest management system, post-harvest handling, and utilization. Training materials were used computer PowerPoint presentation, a smart projector, and a flip chart.

Field day was organized two times at physiological maturity and during harvesting, including post-harvest sensory evaluation. During the field day, participants were zonal, woreda, and kebele level agricultural experts, administrators (decision maker experts), IFAD project coordinators, researchers, and zonal communication affairs were invited and gave their reflection and feedback about the demonstrated innovation. Moreover, field day events were promoted by using Amhara Television programs and North Wollo communication affairs. Therefore, demand for sweet potato production, market linkage, and awareness has been created for the demonstrated sweet potato varieties.

The increased demand for sweet potato production, enhanced market linkages, and heightened awareness that resulted from field days are consistent with evidence from participatory research in other regions. Studies have observed that greater exposure to improved agronomic packages and variety trials can enhance farmers’ perceptions of productivity and market potential, leading to higher interest in adoption and willingness to produce for wider markets (Kuma and Chewaka 2022). This not only enhances technical understanding and farmer preferences but also stimulates market engagement and nutritional awareness, reinforcing the value of integrated extension and communication strategies in sweet potato dissemination programs.

The total productivity of the two sweet potato varieties evaluated in this study was generally comparable, and both varieties performed well under the existing growing conditions. This good performance can be attributed to the absence of major environmental stresses during the growing season, as the farmers effectively managed the fields and provided adequate irrigation throughout crop growth.

Statistical analysis using a t-test revealed that most yield and yield-related traits showed a non-significant difference between the two varieties, except for root number per plant. Although the difference in total root yield was statistically non-significant, numerically higher total root yield was recorded from variety Birtukanie, which produced 33.56 t ha^-1, compared with Jari, which yielded 31.23 t ha^-1. This indicates that Birtukanie has a slight yield advantage under well-managed and irrigated conditions.

A significant difference was observed in the number of roots per plant. Variety Birtukanie produced an average of 13 roots per plant, whereas Jari produced only 4 roots per plant. The higher root number per plant in Birtukanie contributed substantially to its higher total root yield. This finding is consistent with the results of Rahman et al. (2013) and Nwankwo et al. (2012), who reported that a higher number of tuberous roots per plant is a key yield-determining trait and an important criterion for selecting adaptable and high-yielding sweet potato varieties. In the same way, Bezawit et al. (2015) indicated that plants with a higher number of tuberous roots tended to produce greater marketable yield as well as higher total tuberous root output.

However, the results also showed an inverse relationship between root number per plant and average root weight. Varieties producing a higher number of roots tended to have smaller individual root sizes, while those with fewer roots produced larger roots. Accordingly, variety Jari, which had fewer roots per plant, recorded the highest average root weight (549.1 g), whereas Birtukanie recorded a much lower average root weight (108.9 g). Despite these numerical differences, the variation in average root weight between the two varieties was not statistically significant. In terms of root yield per plant, Jari produced a higher yield (1775 g per plant) compared with Birtukanie (1409 g per plant). This higher per-plant yield in Jari can be attributed to its larger average root size, even though it produced fewer roots per plant. Conversely, the higher total yield of Birtukanie was mainly due to its greater root number rather than individual root size.

Generally, the results indicate that both varieties have desirable yield attributes but differ in yield components. Birtukanie is characterized by a higher number of roots per plant and higher total yield, while Jari is characterized by fewer but larger roots and higher yield per plant. These varietal differences are important considerations for farmers and breeders, depending on production objectives such as total yield, root size preference, and market demand.

The observed differences in yield components between the two sweet potato varieties, Birtukanie and Jari, are consistent with commonly reported varietal variations in sweet potato research. Birtukanie was characterized by a higher number of roots per plant and higher total yield, whereas Jari produced fewer but larger roots with higher yield per plant. Such differences are important for both farmers and breeders, as they directly influence production efficiency, market suitability, and end-use preferences.

Similar findings have been reported in other local evaluations conducted in Ethiopia. Studies from the Semen-Bench district demonstrated significant varietal differences in average root number per plant, root size, and marketable yield among improved sweet potato varieties. Some varieties produced many smaller roots, while others produced fewer but larger roots, with these variations largely attributed to inherent genetic differences among cultivars (Gobena et al. 2022). Likewise, performance trials conducted in South Gondar revealed differential adaptability and yield responses of sweet potato varieties across locations, highlighting that yield components such as root number and root size interact with environmental conditions to determine overall productivity (Gurmu et al. 2024).

From a practical farming perspective, the contrasting yield component profiles of Birtukanie and Jari offer distinct strategic advantages depending on production objectives. Varieties with a higher number of roots per plant, such as Birtukanie, are more suitable where maximizing total yield per hectare and bulk production for household consumption or local markets is a priority. In contrast, varieties like Jari, which produce fewer but larger roots, may be preferred in markets that favor large tubers and may command premium prices or meet the requirements of industrial processing, where uniform and larger root sizes are desirable. This aligns with broader research showing that marketable root size and shape not just total yield are important selection criteria for both farmers and consumers (Alam et al. 2024).

Therefore, varietal selection and breeding programs should consider both yield components and market preferences to ensure that released varieties meet diverse production and commercialization goals.

The graph compares farmers’ preferences for the sweet potato varieties Jari and Birtukanie based on key traits, including root size, shape, color, productivity, cooking quality, firmness, taste, and palatability. Farmers’ evaluations were analysed and ranked using the Relative Importance Index (RII), which reflects the relative weight and importance of each trait as perceived by respondents. Overall, the RII values above 0.5 or closer to 1 indicate that both varieties are acceptable to farmers, although they differ in their strengths across agronomic and consumer-related characteristics.

Jari was preferred for root size and firmness, which corresponds with its higher average root weight and better quality after cooking. Both varieties received similar scores for root shape, color, and easiness for cooking, suggesting that these traits did not clearly differentiate the two varieties. In contrast, Birtukanie received a higher preference score for productivity, reflecting its higher total root yield, mainly due to its greater number of roots per plant. Moreover, regarding of food quality for eating, Birtukanie was strongly preferred for taste and palatability, indicating superior consumer acceptance despite its smaller individual root size.

Overall, the results show that Birtukanie is preferred for productivity and food quality for consumption, while Jari is favoured for physical root attributes. This highlights the need to consider both yield performance and farmers’ preferences when selecting and recommending sweet potato varieties for different production and consumption purposes.

The current trends in sweet potato varietal research both agronomic performance and end-user quality traits matter in farmer decision-making. As Jari variety may satisfy market demand for larger, firmer roots, Birtukanie’s attractiveness for productivity and food quality underscores the importance of matching varietal recommendations to production goals and consumption preferences. Integrating such farmer preference data into breeding and extension programs, as emphasized in recent literature, can help ensure that released varieties are both productive and suited to local taste and market contexts, ultimately enhancing adoption and impact (Placide et al. 2015).