Sweet potatoes are valued for their flavor and nutrition, are grown for food (tubers only), and food scraps or rotten potatoes are also used as animal feed (M. Giwa, p.c.). In the Limol area only the roots are consumed, although villagers are aware that in other parts of Papua New Guinea leaves are also consumed (M. Giwa, p.c.). Different flesh colors distinguish varieties and include purple, white, yellow, and orange (Wareya “Westley” Giniya, p.c.).
Sweet potatoes are planted in the wet season in gardens in the bush or in the dry season in swamp gardens. In bush gardens, a mound is built, and stem cuttings or pieces of tuber are planted (M. Giwa, p.c.). Five to six cuttings are planted per mound. In floating grass gardens, a piece of tuber is buried, and no mound is made. Potatoes are typically planted by women (M. Giwa, p.c.).
Sweet potatoes are planted in the wet season in gardens in the bush or in the dry season in swamp gardens. In bush gardens, a mound is built, and stem cuttings or pieces of tuber are planted (M. Giwa, p.c.). Five to six cuttings are planted per mound. In floating grass gardens, a piece of tuber is buried, and no mound is made. Potatoes are typically planted by women (M. Giwa, p.c.).
Sweet potato mounds are weeded twice per season. Leaves and grass are added to mounds as organic matter. Mounds are not irrigated or watered, and plants rely entirely on rain (M. Giwa, p.c.). Chili peppers are thrown on mounds to keep rats away (M. Giwa, p.c.).
Harvesting begins after about two months of growth and potatoes planted in the same garden may be harvested two-three times throughout the season (M. Giwa, p.c.). The tuber crop for eating is harvested first and tubers that will be used as future planting material are harvested afterward (M. Giwa, p.c.). Women are the primary harvesters. Sweet potatoes are consumed immediately after harvesting because they cannot be stored (M. Giwa, p.c.). Potatoes are boiled, baked in a traditional oven, or cooked in the ash of a fire (M. Giwa, p.c.).
Issues in sweet potato cultivation include damage from rats, bandicoots, and pigs (particularly if a fence surrounding a garden breaks). Small root borers and grubs are found in tubers. Drought kills runners. Crop destruction from fire is also a risk as men sometimes start fires in the grasslands as a strategy to scare animals while hunting and these fires can get out of control and burn gardens (M. Giwa, p.c.).
Harvesting begins after about two months of growth and potatoes planted in the same garden may be harvested two-three times throughout the season (M. Giwa, p.c.). The tuber crop for eating is harvested first and tubers that will be used as future planting material are harvested afterward (M. Giwa, p.c.). Women are the primary harvesters. Sweet potatoes are consumed immediately after harvesting because they cannot be stored (M. Giwa, p.c.). Potatoes are boiled, baked in a traditional oven, or cooked in the ash of a fire (M. Giwa, p.c.).
Issues in sweet potato cultivation include damage from rats, bandicoots, and pigs (particularly if a fence surrounding a garden breaks). Small root borers and grubs are found in tubers. Drought kills runners. Crop destruction from fire is also a risk as men sometimes start fires in the grasslands as a strategy to scare animals while hunting and these fires can get out of control and burn gardens (M. Giwa, p.c.).
