
Processing and Marketing

In addition to boiling, steaming, roasting and drying, there are novel ways of preparing sweetpotato, especially the orange-fleshed type (OFSP), to add value to it. For example, fresh grated sweetpotato, boiled and mashed sweetpotato (puree) and sweetpotato flour can replace some of the wheat flour in commonly consumed products.
They can be incorporated into bread, doughnuts, chapati, cakes, biscuits, croissants, pies etc. In addition, sweetpotato flour can be mixed with other flours to produce composite flour that can be used to make porridge for children. Other products from OFSP include sweetpotato jam and ketchup. Sweetpotato leaves can be used to prepare relish.
The substitution of wheat flour, either with fresh grated OFSP, boiled and mashed OFSP or OFSP flour, is gaining a foothold in the snack product market in East Africa. However, profit depends on the relative cost of sweetpotato roots or flour to wheat flour and the degree of substitution.

Fresh sweetpotato roots outside the main harvest season fetch a much higher market price than sundried sweetpotato root slices or pieces. However, despite significant efforts to find effective ways of storing fresh sweetpotato roots so that they can be used at home or sold to the market over a longer period of time, there is very little use of these methods in sub-Saharan Africa.
Fresh sweetpotato roots are categorized as perishable because once detached from the plant, unless they are cut into small pieces and sun-dried, they cannot be stored for long periods of time, unlike grain crops.
Across the world, there are traditional methods of storing fresh sweetpotato roots. Researchers have used these traditional stores as a basis from which to try and develop improved fresh storage. Uptake of fresh root storage is dependent on the expected root price difference between that at harvest time and that a few months later on. While theoretically, the storage of fresh roots should enable them to sell at higher rates in to the market, there is evidence that many farmers also store them for their own consumption.

Fresh sweetpotato roots are highly perishable due to their high moisture content, sugar content, delicate thin skin, their high respiratory rate after harvest which produces heat and leads to softening of the roots. Shelf life varies by variety. Leaving the harvested storage roots in the sun for a short period is believed to help increase shelf-life, but it can also lead to moisture loss and softening.
The market value of fresh sweetpotato roots can be enhanced through improved post-harvest handling. For example, when the fresh roots are ready to be taken to the market, their value can be enhanced by improving their presentation through washing. Sweetpotato roots can also be sorted by hand to remove any rotting or otherwise unmarketable roots. Though grading and sizing is not commonly done in most parts of Africa, growers, wholesalers and retailers are being encouraged to practice root sorting to improve the value of the product on the market.
Proper packaging is an important step in the journey from the grower to the consumer. Across sub-Saharan Africa, sweetpotato is packed and transported in large sacks that are heavy to carry and are often dropped, causing bruises and other mechanical damage which results to rotting and reduces storage and shelf-lfie of the roots. This may discourage buyers.
Other ways of improving post-handling include labeling of produce to enable growers and others in the value chain to keep track of the source of the roots and the destination, and proper ways of transportation.
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OFSP Situation Analysis Report_NigeriaThe situation analysis examined the literature and information from both primary and secondary sources on sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) and orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) in three north central ...
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SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SASHA PROJECT TO THE POPULATION LIVELIHOODS IN MUHANGA DISTRICT CASE STUDY OF SHYOGWE SECTOR (2011-2014)Sweet potato has been grown and constituted one of the staple foodstuffs in Rwanda for decades. It is used as foodstuff and fodder for animal. Its tuberous root and leaves are most important for fo...
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Planning an integrated agriculture and health program and designing its evaluation: Experience from Western KenyaMulti-sectoral programs that involve stakeholders in agriculture, nutrition and health care are essential for responding to nutrition problems such as vitamin A deficiency among pregnant and ...
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Farmer-led Seed Enterprise Initiatives to Access Certified Seed for Traditional African Vegetables and its Effect on Incomes in TanzaniaFarmers need access to certified seed stocks for efficient production of traditional African vegetable seed. However, access to quality certified seed is constrained by several factors. Primary dat...
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Implementation of Multiple Irish Aid-Funded Orange Flesh Sweet Potato ProjectsBiofortification of sweetpotatoes is a promising and sustainable agricultural approach to reduce vitamin A deficiency (VAD), particularly in remote areas where individuals have limited access to co...
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The Introduction of Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato on the Agricultural Farming System of Central Mozambique: The Opportunity Cost of Growing This Nutritious CropMany efforts have been recently made in Mozambique to disseminate orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP), an efficacious and effective source of pro-vitamin A. It has been demonstrated that the consumpt...
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The potential impact of orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes on vitamin A intake in Sub-Saharan AfricaA recent ex ante impact assessment indicates that orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes can make a major contribution to alleviating vitamin A malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. Replacing the white-fleshed...
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Integrating health and agriculture to maximize the nutritional impact of orange-fleshed sweetpotato: Results from the Mama SASHAThe Mama SASHA project was implemented in select health facilities across Busia and Bungoma districts of Western Province, Kenya. The project was implemented within the existing USAID/Kenya AIDS, P...
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One Million Hectares: World-wide Varietal Change in Potatoes and the Contribution of the International Potato CenterDevelopment and availability of appropriate varieties and crop technologies are critical if we are to meet rising food security needs, including an increased potato demand at affordable prices for ...
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Evaluation of Impact of Project Intervention INCOPA / ADERSE in HuanucoThis study is a joint initiative of INCOPA, PAPA ANDINA (another project of the International Potato Center associated with INCOPA) and ADERSE, and leaned on a consulting job for execution. Its kin...
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Sweetpotato in the Farming and Food Systems of Uganda: A Farm Survey Report
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School-based nutrition education and promotion of orange-fleshed sweetpotato in urban and peri-urbanareas of Kampala: Impacts and lessons learntUnder the umbrella of the project “Promotion of Orange-Fleshed Sweetpotato Varieties through Schools in Urban and Peri-urban Communities of Kampala” two separately funded and implemented components...
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Food Safety Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Orange Fleshed Sweetpotato Puree Handlers in KenyaOrange Fleshed Sweetpotato (OFSP) puree is a nutritious food ingredient for promoting Vitamin A intake in processed food products in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). OFSP puree handlers play an important ...
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Effect of variety and processing method on functional properties of traditional sweet potato flour (“elubo”) and sensory acceptability of cooked paste (“amala”)“Amala” is a generic term in Nigeria, used to describe a thick paste prepared by stirring flour (“elubo”) from yam, cassava or unripe plantain, in hot water, to form a smooth consistency. In order ...
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Quality attributes of sweet potato flour as influenced by variety, pretreatment and drying methodThe effect of pretreatment methods (soaking in water, potassium metabisulphite solution, and blanching) and drying methods (sun and oven) on some quality attributes of flour from ten varieties of s...
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Effect of frying temperature and time on composition and sensory quality of sweet potato crispsFried products have been found to be among the sweet potato products that are not only capable of increasing the utilization of sweet potato in Nigeria, but also have high commercial potential. It ...
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Development and transfer of processing technologies for fruity food production from sweet potatoIn an attempt to increase the economic value of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), the starchy roots have been processed into fruity-food products. The formulated fruity sweet potato products have sim...
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Development and transfer of processing technologies for fruity food products from sweet potatoIn an attempt to increase the economic value of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), the starchy roots have been processed into fruity-food products. The formulated fruity sweet potato products have sim...
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Complementary food blends and malnutrition among infants in Ghana: A review and a proposed solutionWidespread malnutrition among Ghanaian infants could be attributed to unfortified plant-based complementary foods commonly used at the household level. This review summarizes the publications on th...
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Orange-fleshed sweet potato-based infant food is a better source of dietary vitamin A than a maize– legume blend as complementary foodBackground: White maize, which is widely used for complementary feeding and is seldom fortified at the household level, may be associated with the high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among infa...
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Sweetpotato- and Cereal-Based Infant Foods: Protein Quality Assessment, and Effect on Body Composition Using Sprague Dawley Rats as a ModelThe Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of sweetpotato-based complementary foods (OFSP ComFa and CFSP ComFa) and cereal-based infant products (Weanimix and Cerelac) was assess...
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Carbohydrate composition, viscosity, solubility, and sensory acceptance of sweetpotato- and maize-based complementary foodsBackground: Cereal-based complementary foods from non-malted ingredients form a relatively high viscous porridge. Therefore, excessive dilution, usually with water, is required to reduce the viscos...
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Sweet potato-based complementary food for infants in low-income countriesBackground: In low-income countries, most infants are given cereal-based complementary foods prepared at the household level. Such foods are high in phytate, which limits the bioavailability of nut...
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Development of sweet potato-soybean blend, an alternative to maize-legume mix as complementary food for infants in GhanaBackground: The composition of the foods given to infants and young children in Ghana significantly contributes to the prevalence of malnutrition. Currently, a better option may be Weanmix (maize-s...
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Training Manual on Marketing and Product Development for Extension WorkersThis is a marketing and products development training manual sweetpotato extension workers. It starts with marketing mix specifically the 5P’s and how they connect, farming as business is hig...
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Popular Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato Products in Rwanda: Biscuits and DoughnutsGolden Power Biscuits and mandazi (fried doughnuts) have emerged as the top products made with freshly prepared orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) puree at Urwibutso Enterprises. This flyer shares t...
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Nutritious and affordable sweetpotato based silage: the feed solution for small-scale pig farmersThis flyer describes the objectives, approach and achievements of ongoing research to develop innovative business models to promote and commercialize sweetpotato silage in Uganda (June 2014 - July ...
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Scaling Up Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato Through Agriculture and Nutrition (SUSTAIN) in MozambiqueSUSTAIN is a 5-year partnership (2013-2018), coordinated by CIP and financed by the UK Department for International Development, to scale up the nutrition benefits of biofortified orange-fleshed sw...
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Assessment of the Antioxidant Potential of Sweetpotato Peel Extract in Controlling RanciditySweetpotato peels (SPP) are reported to be rich in phenolic compounds (Zhan, 1997), but are often disposed as waste or used as animal feed after processing. The objective of this study was to scree...
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Making high quality sweetpotato silage: an improved tube silage making methodSweetpotato silage is a method for preserving vines and roots in a succulent condition in a silo. Well-made sweetpotato silage is a wholesome and nutritious feed for all classes of cattle and pigs....
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Assessment of sweetpotato cultivars for suitability for different forms of processingAssessing sweetpotato cultivars for suitability for different forms of processing including cooking quality, crisp production, dried chip processing, and flour processing. ISBN: 0 85954 548 2Source...
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Sweetpotato Processing and Recipes - UgandaParticipants of the seetpotato integrated production and pest management (IPPM) farmer field schoos (FS) asked for a guide on sweetpotato processing and recipes that would help them remember what t...
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Ex ante assessment of dual-purpose sweet potato in the crop–livestock system of western Kenya: A minimum-data approachIn this paper the authors assess the potential benefits of introducing dual-purpose sweet potato in the mixed crop-livestock systems of East Africa, with an example of Vihiga district in western Ke...
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Training Manual on Marketing and Product Development for Traders and ProcessorsThis is a training manual developed towards traders and processors. It has details on Orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) a sweetpotato variety rich in vitamin A, description, postharvest handling an...
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Marketing and product development promoter trainingThe flow chart contains Marketing principles and product development information as well as information for promoter training on Vitamin A rich sweetpotato.
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The Use of OFSP to Combat Vitamin A Deficiency in UgandaThe HarvestPlus Initiative undertook a number of studies to document the situation of sweetpotato in Uganda with a focus on OFSP. These studies examined producer and consumer preferences, extension...
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Farmer Field School on Sweetpotato Based Cattle Fattening: Technical and Field GuidesThis manual is meant to serve as guide in the conduct of the sweetpotato-based cattle fattening FFS. The facilitating team and farmer participants discussed and finalized the topics involved in the...
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IN VITRO GAS PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE FOR ASSESSMENT OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas (I) lam) SILAGE USING FRESH FAECAL INOCULUM FROM PIGSVine, tuber and whole plant silages from five cultivars of sweet potato (Hapur local, Indonesia Boger (IB) 97-6/7, IB 12/24, IB 12/7 and CIP SWA-4) were investigated for nitrogen content, in vitro ...
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Variations in vine to tuber rations and total biomass yield in five cultivars of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) (I) lam) grown for silage for pigsFive cultivars of sweet potato (Hapur local, Indonesia Boger (IB) 97-6/7, IB 12/24, IB 12/7 and CIP SWA-4) were grown at ICRISAT, India, on red soil with supplementary irrigation. Agronomical obser...
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Using Competing Traits to Select Dual-Purpose Sweetpotato in Native GermplasmArticle from CIP Program Report 1999-2000, page 289-294
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Product Development for Root and Tuber Crops - Volume III AfricaThis publication is the proceedings of the International Workshop on Root and Tuber Crop Processing, Marketing and Utilization in Asia, organized by CIP, CIAT, IITA from April 22-May 1 1991 in Ibad...
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Product Development for Root and Tuber Crops - Volume 1 AsiaThis publication is the proceedings of the International Workshop on Root and Tuber Crop Processing, Marketing and Utilization in Asia, organized by CIP, CIAT, IITA from April 22-May 1 1991 in the ...
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Sweetpotato for the New Millennium: Trends in Production and Utilization in Developing CountriesThis paper analyzes recent trends in sweetpotato production and use from a global, regional, and sub-regional perspective. Developments in Asia, China in particular and Sub-Saharan Africa merit par...
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Sweetpotato in South Asia: Post-harvest handling, Processing, Storage and UseThis publication contains workshop proceedings on analytical trends in post-harvest handling, storage, and utilization of sweetpotato (SP). SP has considerable importance at farm level, as untapped...
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PRES24 Storage and CuringThis is a presentation made at the 2014 Sweetpotato for Profit and Health Initiative annual meeting. It covers the results of trials done to achieve improved curing for longer shelf-life in several...
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Scaling Up Orange-fleshed Sweetpotato Through Agriculture and Nutrition (SUSTAIN) in MozambiqueSUSTAIN is a 5-year partnership (2013-2018), coordinated by CIP and financed by the UK Department for International Development, to scale up the nutrition benefits of biofortified orange-fleshed sw...
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Curing and the physiology of wound healingThe nature of wound healing, conditions that promote would healing, and screening of sweetpotato germplasm for wound healingSource: http://www.researchintouse.com/nrk/RIUinfo/PF/CPP20.htm
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Extending root shelf-life during marketing by cultivar selectionThis chapter discuss methods and factors to consider to prolong root shelf-life during marketing. The first observation is that different sweetpotato cultivars have varied susceptibility to w...
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Sweetpotato post-harvest assessment: experiences from East AfricaThis is summary of earlier research work on post-harvest aspects of sweetpotato. The main focus is primarily towards agricultural scientists and breeders working on sweetpotato worldwide and narrow...
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Maximising incomes from sweet potato production as a contribution to rural livelihoodsThis publication contains final project report on crop postharvest procedures in Tanzania. Crop perishability and problems with in-ground storage, fronts crops as seasonal and with cons...
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Improving long-term storage under tropical conditions: role of cultivar selectionThis is a book chapter demonstrating study on appropriate methods for long term storage in tropical conditions using different cultivars. From studies conducted, different cultivars show sign...
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The extension of storage life and improvement of quality in fresh sweetpotato through selection of appropriate cultivars and handling conditionsThis technical report summarizes a project aimed to improve sweetpotato storage techniques or strategies for fresh and processed products in Tanzania. As improving handling techniques and /or using...
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Post Harvest MethodsThis document describe the various conventional methods used for post-harvest handling.
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Sweetpotato in South Asia: Post-harvest handling, Processing, Storage and UseThis publication contains workshop proceedings on analytical trends in post-harvest handling, storage, and utilization of sweetpotato (SP). SP has considerable importance at farm level, as untapped...
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Sweetpotato Postharvest Systems in Uganda: Strategies, Constraints and PotentialsSweetpotato is often either a major food staple or complementary staple in Ugandan food systems. It also serves as a famine reserve crop and increasingly as an important source of case income. Neve...
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