Sweet potato is a popular food in many parts of Eastern Africa. It is drought resistant, hardy and can grow in marginal areas, thus contributing to improved food security. The young leaves and vines can be consumed as vegetables or fed to livestock. The orange-fleshed sweet potato variety has high beta-carotene content, which boosts the immune system. During bumper harvests, farmers often sell sweet potatoes at throw-away prices. Losses after harvesting are high due to perishing. In some communities in Eastern Africa, sweet potatoes are preserved for the dry season by sun-drying to make amukeke – dried sweet potato chips. The dried chips are boiled and mashed with beans, milled or pounded to make flour, which can be mixed with either millet or cassava flours to make stiff porridge. This leaflet guides you on how you can make money from sweet potatoes by making and selling high-quality sweet potato chips and flour.

Identifier: ISSN 1873-8192