European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety

Among Indian rural women, malnutrition remained a significant problem because of their high energy needs and insufficient food intake. Under rainfed, medium-land conditions in Bargarh, Puri, Ganjam & Boudh districts of Odisha, the study aimed to assess the nutritional benefits, economic feasibility, and agronomic performance of two bio-fortified sweet potato varieties: Bhusona (yellow-fleshed, rich in β-carotene) and Bhukrishna (purple-fleshed, rich in anthocyanins) in comparison to the native variety Nalikaanda. With rural farm women as the primary participants, a randomised block design (RBD) was used in an On-Farm Trial (OFT) approach. The findings revealed that in terms of yield, profitability, and nutritional content, both bio-fortified varieties considerably surpassed the conventional type. In comparison to the native variety, Bhusona recorded a 33% increase in yield, while Bhukrishna demonstrated a 24.8 % improvement. Higher net profits and benefit-cost ratios for both varieties were found through economic analysis, indicating greater profitability and suitability for smallholder farmers. According to the nutrient profile, Bhusona has 14 mg/100g β-carotene and Bhukrishna has 90 mg/100g anthocyanins, indicating that they may be able to help with vitamin deficits. According to the sensory evaluation, the superior appearance, sweetness, and flavour of Bhusona contributed to its higher overall acceptability score (8.55 ± 0.50) while Bhukrishna received lower preference ratings due to its darker colour and mildly astringent taste. The knowledge, abilities, and confidence of rural women in embracing nutrient-rich, climate-resilient crops were improved by the participatory trials. According to the findings, bio-fortified sweet potatoes are a viable agri-food innovation that can help rural women by increasing their dietary diversity, nutritional security, and economic resilience. It was proposed that widespread distribution, online awareness efforts, and incorporation into public nutrition initiatives might hasten adoption even more and support long-term ecological and social development in rural India.

Malnutrition among rural women in India remained a pressing concern due to high energy requirements and inadequate dietary intake. An on-farm trial (OFT) was conducted across four districts of Odisha—Puri, Bargarh, Ganjam, and Boudh—to evaluate the agronomic performance, economic feasibility, and consumer acceptability of two biofortified sweet potato varieties, Bhu Sona (yellow-fleshed, β-carotene-rich) and Bhu Krishna (purple-fleshed, anthocyanin-rich), compared to the local variety Nalikanda (FP). Using a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications per location, data on yield, vine length, tubers per plant, cost-benefit ratio, and sensory attributes were collected. The results indicated that both biofortified varieties significantly outperformed the local check. Bhu Sona recorded the highest tuber yield (161.04 q ha⁻¹), longest vine length (212.43 cm), superior sensory acceptability (8.57 ± 1.35), and highest economic return (B:C ratio 2.18), followed by Bhu Krishna (yield 151.12 q ha⁻¹; B:C 2.15). Nalikanda exhibited the lowest performance across all parameters. Sensory evaluation revealed strong consumer preference for Bhu Sona due to its appealing appearance, sweetness, and flavour. The study demonstrated that biofortified sweet potatoes enhanced dietary diversity, nutritional security, and income among rural farm women. Participatory trials also improved knowledge, skills, and confidence in adopting nutrient-rich, climate-resilient crops. The findings suggested that widespread dissemination, awareness campaigns, and integration into public nutrition programs could have accelerated adoption and supported sustainable livelihoods and nutritional well-being in rural India.