Dr P Adebola, the Programme Manager for the Sweet Potato Research Programme at ARC- Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Institute (VOPI) informed the delegation that the mandate of VOPI, which is based at Roodeplaat (Pretoria), is to carry out needs-driven and environmentally friendly research, technology development and technology transfer of commercial vegetables, African/traditional/indigenous vegetables, medicinal plants and indigenous bulbous plants. He further reported that the primary aim of the Sweet Potato Research Programme is the breeding of improved varieties; promotion of the orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) for addressing malnutrition; establishment of nurseries for vine dissemination and establishment of small-price enterprises. He mentioned that the sweet potato is one of the seven major staple crops of the world and feeds millions of people in the developing world. He said in South Africa the sweet potato is a popular crop amongst resource-poor farmers and is also grown commercially for the fresh and export markets. He further explained that the crop is adaptable to a broad range of agro-ecological conditions and can therefore, be grown in all provinces in South Africa and in some areas throughout the year.