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Sweetpotato
is among the major food crops
in the world and is cultivated in all tropical and subtropical regions particularly in Asia, Africa
and the Pacific. It is difficult to obtain accurate
production statistics for sweetpotato, as most is produced for home consumption.
However, from the available FAO statistics, China
is by far the largest producer, with about 84% of the global
production, Uganda and Nigeria with combined production of about 3.6%
while Vietnam and Indonesia produce 2.5% of total sweetpotato in the world. Production
per capita in 2001 was highest in Rwanda (143 kg/year), Uganda (104
kg/year) and Papua New Guinea (98 kg/year).
The
more diversified utilisation of sweetpotato in Asia and Africa surely contribute
in the improvement of local economies. Aside from being a subsistence crop,
sweetpotato makes a large contribution to livestock production in many areas.
The International Potato Centre reported that the share used as feed in Asia
jumping from 14.5% in 1961-63 to 44% in 1993-95. Industrial use of sweetpotato
for starch and other processed goods is more localized, but expanding.
Thus sweetpotato increasingly provides an additional source of cash for poor families, directly and
indirectly, due to its more diversified use.
Contributors:
Vilma Amante and
Jane
O'Sullivan |
Origin
Botany
and morphology
Growing
environments
Nutritional
value
Utilisation
Sweetpotato
has been a dependable food source for small farmers and their families (E.
Rasco, Jr.). |
