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Originally
domesticated in tropical America, sweetpotato spread to the South Pacific in
prehistoric times. However, it is a relatively recent migrant in the countries
where it now has greatest importance. European traders and colonists brought the
crop to Africa, Asia and the western Pacific. Spanish explorers are believed to
have taken the sweetpotato to the Philippines and East Indies, from where it was
soon carried to India, China, and Malaya by Portuguese voyagers. It reached
China, the word's number one sweetpotato producer, in 1594, and Papua New Guinea
(PNG), where it is a staple crop, some time between 1600 and 1700. From
China, it was introduced to Japan, where it is now the third most important food
crop, around 1700. Rwanda, now one of the highest per capita consumers of
sweetpotato, began cultivating it only in the 18th century.
Contributed
by:
Jane O'Sullivan and
Vilma.
Amante
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Botany
and morphology
Importance
Growing
environments
Nutritional
value
Utilisation
 Sweetpotato
in Peru, one of the places where it was believed to have originated
(CIP-Lima). |
