The value chain and market analysis has the objective to analyse sweet potato market opportunities in Burkina Faso and describe its value chain in order to promote orange fleshed varieties under the framework of the project: jumpstarting orange fleshed sweetpotato in west Africa through diversified markets. The study was both descriptive and analytic and focused specifically on the Kénédougou province, the biggest sweetpotato production area of Burkina and where the project will be implemented.  Interviews were conducted with producers and local development actors in the production area. Wholesalers, transporters, retailers, processors, consumers in the main end markets (Bobo Dioulasso, Kaya, Dori, Ouagadougou and Sikasso in Mali) were also interviewed.

The results analysis shows that OFSP production has a huge potential for growth in Burkina Faso and for increasing farmers and value chain actors’ income but until now its production is still very low. The main sweet potato production in Kénédougou is the white-fleshed white-skinned variety.  OFSP may represent less than 1% of the production. Some value chain actors are trying to diversify sweetpotato market by processing but this is on a very small scale and the products are not yet well known by consumers. This study helped uncover some products that have interesting market potential such as flour for infant mixes, déguè, and couscous. Chips and juice can also be interesting to develop, however they may require greater investment and good marketing to be scaled up. Potential partners for processing have been identified, namely BALO GNUMA enterprise, WILI KATAAMA cooperative, ENTRACEL, WEND MANAAGA and DAFANI.

In spite of the main constraints that are Lack of OFSP quality planting material that respond to the actors’ needs (high yield, good storability, big size roots, early maturing, disease free),poor storage systems that cause postharvest damages, farmers’ low technical know-how both in production and marketing, poor market network, diversified processed products not developed and lack of OFSP demand due to consumer unawareness of OFSP virtues, farmers and different economic actors perceive the promotion of OFSP as a great opportunity to increase their income and diversify their production.

Awareness campaign both in production and consumption places may be necessary for OFSP demand creation meanwhile farmers have access to good quality planting material and capacity building in production and marketing to meet that demand.