Overview

Sweetpotato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the bindweed or morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable. The young shoots and leaves are sometimes eaten as greens.

Cultivation Tips

Sweet potatoes are root vegetables that grow best in warm, humid climates with well-drained soil. It matures in 85 to 120 days and they're extremely frost sensitive. Plant them in full sun three to four weeks after the last frost.

Performance

Nigeria is the second largest producer of sweet potatoes in the world, after China. In Africa, Nigeria is the leading producer of sweet potatoes.

Challenges

Sweet potato crops remain vulnerable to extreme weather, pests, diseases, storage problems, drought, and lack of adaptable cultivars for different agro-ecological conditions influenced sweet potato production.

Benefits

Sweet potatoes are a healthy root vegetable chock full of antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. Plus, the nutrients in sweet potatoes are excellent for your gut, eyes, immune system, and more. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and zinc.