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COUNCIL OF YOUTHS ON EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL EMANCIPATION
(COYEARE)
Having firmly affirmed to rejuvenate agricultural practices in all ramifications from
production, processing to marketing, ensuring youth and national interest through innovation
driven agricultural practices; at COYEARE we believe in our philosophies amongst which is
agriculture. On this note we have chosen Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato (a vitamin A
biofortified variety of sweet potato) as a crop focus for production, processing, marketing and
utilization. This is in pursuit of our project against child mortality and malnutrition in
Africa tagged “Saving Our Future”; proffering a sustainable, affordable and accessible
solution through agriculture (Nigeria as the initiating country).
BRIEF BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON INITIATING COUNTRY
Nigerian Agricultural Sector
Estimated population of over 170 million (2014) youths making up about 70% of the total
population (approximately 120million)
Huge domestic market which can drive growth in agricultural and industrial production,
including agrobased value addition
Diverse agroecological zones which are suitable for the production of cash crops – cocoa,
oil palm, rubber and food crops such as maize, cassava, cocoyam and sweet potato
GDP growth rate at an average of 6.8% over the last ten years 2005 2015, highest at
8.60% in the fourth quarter of 2010 during that period, driven largely by the petroleum and
agricultural sectors.
Inflation rate at 9.2% August, 2015
Diverse and relatively well developed financial sector:
Private sector share of total credit by formal sector dwarfs credit to public sector
75% of credit is shortterm maturity
Only 1.4% of private sector credit goes to agriculture
Agriculture remains livelihood source, mostly in rural areas.
Contributes over 41% to GDP,
employs ≈ 70% of labour force
Dwindling performance of sector due to:
Underinvestment, poor pricing policies, inadequate access to modern inputs, low access to
agricultural credit, land tenure insecurity, land degradation, inadequate and unpredictable
investment in agricultural research, inefficiencies in agricultural marketing systems.
Challenges of the Agricultural sector ….
Domestic supply of food is less than its high demand
Dependency on food importation except for starchy roots, sugar crops and spices
Food importation has reached US$2 billion/year despite the endowment of agroclimate
Wheat and rice – 30%
Value of rice importation is 35% of domestic production
Bulk of food consumed by average household are high carbohydrate sources deficient
in protein and essential nutrients
Recent explosion in instant noodles consumption in Nigeria.
Over 12 million Nigerians are consuming noodles made from wheat and many more
are likely to join.
The estimated market size in 2007 was 250 million cartons (WINA) making Nigeria
the 13th largest consumer of instant noodles in the world.
Vitamin A deficiency – leading cause of preventable visual impairment and blindness
average 29.5% incidence among children below 5 years
Sweet potato production and marketing in Nigeria
Nigeria is 3rd largest producer of Sweet potato, but is a minor crop in the country based on
volume produced (2.43 million tonnes – 2007) in relation to the size of population
Share in total food consumption is only 0.03
Production is done in all states due to ecological adaptability
Low input requirements
Shorter gestation period (34 months).
Concentration shifted from subhumid zones of Kwara, Plateau, Niger and Benue to semi
arid zones where Kaduna, Kano & Bauchi are leading producing states
Dominated by smallholder farmers cultivating ≤1 ha
Most cultivate family or inherited land
Few rent or lease land –beginning to occur where commercial production is becoming
significant
Sweet potato production
Commercial production appears concentrated in semiarid northern states Kano, Kaduna
& Bauchi
Irrigation makes year round cultivation possible.
Less sweet & floury varieties for which there is rising demand in major urban markets.
Major varieties produced in Nigeria
Sweet potato varieties ranges from very sugary to bland
Varietal awareness is limited in Nigeria
Commonly cultivated varieties are:
Red/purple skin – white fleshed sweet
Yellow/cream skin & light yellow flesh variety
Watery (low dry matter) to floury (high dry matter)
Consumer preferences are
Influencing choice of varieties cultivated in communities where there is rising commercial
production of Sweet potato
Yellow fleshed, less sweet variety with relatively high dry matter is very popular
among consumers
Street food sellers of fried Sp chips; high dry matter reduces oil consumption; makes
Sp more filling
Yellow colouration after frying is attractive to young consumers (including school
children)
Adults also prefer less sweet varieties because of diabetic concerns
Yellow fleshed less sweet varieties dominate supply in major markets of FCT & Lagos
Partly due to shift in supply base from southern Yoruba states to the north.
Preferred also in northern states where it is used as sweetener (kunnun)
SWEET POTATO EVOLUTION IN NIGERIA
Sweet potato is a staple foods crop in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, its production in Nigeria
increased by the number of hectares of land used for cultivation, the yield and rate of consumption.
Estimates from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 2001, showed that sweet potato production
yield (kg/ha) and area harvested witnessed a steady increase in Nigeria. It revealed that production
increased from 149, 000 metric tonnes in 1989 to 2, 468, 000 metric tonnes in 2001. Sweet potato
yield (kg/ha) increased from 5, 681 to 6,478 (kg/ha) from 1989 – 2001 while area harvested increased
from 26 to 381, 000 hectares. It was also revealed that 1, 725, 000 metric tonnes of sweet potato were
utilized for food and the total domestic supply was 2,464, 000 metric tonnes.
However, with these developments, sweet potato is still seen as one of the most underutilized staple
crops in Africa, even though it ranks fifth, as one of the world’s most essential staple crops. It does
not find much use as food in most parts of Africa except in Burundi, Rwanda and Zaire, which
accounted for over 46 percent of African sweet potato production in 1984. Its roots and leaves are
naturally rich in vitamin A and other essential minerals; it also has a good economical advantage as
well. Among the root and tuber crops, it is the only one that had a positive per capita annual rate of
increase in production in SubSaharan Africa.
Sweet potato has a high yield potential that may be realized within a relatively short growing
season and adaptability to a wide ecological range of 0 to 2000 meters above sea level and
300 N to300S.
There is a need to take a good look and focus on the opportunities that lie in the production and
consumption of sweet potato in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, as Ezeano, 2006, believed; with the
various developments on sweet potato notwithstanding, it is still one of the most misunderstood of the
major food crops.
“Considering its chemical composition and qualitative nutritive value, sweet potato deserves much
better attention than it presently enjoys as a source of readily digestible and soluble carbohydrate in
food and feed in Nigeria” (Oyenuga, 1968)
WHY ORANGE FLESHED SWEET POTATO (OFSP)?
The ProblemAccording to projections in IFPRI’s 2020 Vision project, the number of malnourished children is
projected to rise from 33 million in 1997 to between 39 and 49 million in 2020, depending on the
model used (Rosengrant et al., 2001).
It would be observed that Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) is a major contributor to the problem of
malnutrition and it is the leading cause of preventable child blindness as optimal vitamin A status is
necessary for the immune system to function normally. Subclinical deficiency has been linked to
increase childhood illness and death. This goes a long way is affecting the effectiveness of children in
their infancy and makes them more susceptible to various kinds of diseases. Nigeria was ranked is
having 1530% retinol deficiency, which makes Nigeria among the top ranked countries with this
deficiency in the world along with some other African and developing countries. Furthermore, VAD
affects 4060% of children underfive in developing countries, compromising their immune
systems, resulting in a million deaths a year, 5 million children worldwide under the age of five
are affected by a serious eye disorder, xerophthalmia that makes them vulnerable to becoming
blind, as a result of vitamin A deficiency, which has led to a high rate of child mortality in
developing countries, resulting from micronutrient malnutrition.
The latest UNICEF report in July, 2015 based on the Millennium Development Goals,
revealed that children from the poorest quintile are two times as likely to die before their fifth
birthday as children from the richest households; disparities in maternal health are persistent
and profound. Women in the richest quintile were almost three times as likely to deliver with
a skilled health attendant as women in the poorest quintile. This disparity has not changed in
15 years. The most alarming of these results however is the fact that the Percentage of
children under age 5 moderately or severely stunted (as a result of poverty and malnutrition)
and percentage decline, by region, from 1990 to 2015 shows that the region of West and
Central Africa has shown the lowest decline, with only 22% reduction over the past
millennium, followed by region of east and southern Africa with 28%.
Overall child mortality rate has also shown massive improvements in various regions of the
world, with majority of the regions (shown in the results) achieving over 50% reduction in
child mortality rate over the past millennium. However, the region of west and central Africa
could only record a 48% reduction, making it the most lagging region in the world and
technically the region with the highest rate of child deaths at present. Even with the
improvements in various other regions, the report reveals that 16, 000 children under age
five will die every day and 11 children under age five will die every minute worldwide.
In the region of west and central Africa, these estimates would be more, as it records the
lowest reduction in child mortality rate over the past millennium.
In Nigeria every single day we lose about 2, 300 underfive year olds and 145 women of
childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under
five and maternal mortality rate in the world. Preventable or treatable infectious diseases
such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per
cent of the estimated one million underfive deaths in Nigeria.
Malnutrition is the underlying cause of morbidity and mortality of a large proportion of
children under5 in Nigeria. It accounts for more than 50 per cent of deaths of children in this
age bracket.
Every child deserves a fair chance in life. Our future depends on it. As the global community comes together around the Sustainable
Development Goals, we should set our sights first on reaching the children left behind as we pursued the MDGs. This is the moment to
seize that chance. Future generations will and should hold us accountable for a failure to do so.
Anthony lake, Executive Director, UNICEF
Impacts
Vitamin A Sweet potato or otherwise called Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato had earlier been introduced
to Uganda and Mozambique from 2007 to 2009 and in 2012 it was shown that the introduction of
OFSP increased the intake of vitamin A especially among women and children.
“Introduction of OFSP to Ugandan farming households increased vitamin A intakes among children
and women and was associated with improved vitamin A status among children (Christine Hotz, et.al,
2012)”
“A feeding trial with school children in South Africa showed that consumption of orange sweet
potato, high in betacarotene, led to improvements in their vitamin A status (van Jaarsveld et al.,
2005). A similar result was also obtained in a community setting in Mozambique (Low et al., 2007)”.
Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato provides an affordable and accessible solution to curbing the problem of
VAD vis a vis the high rate of child mortality encountered as a result.
“Sweet potato is the least expensive, year round source of dietary, vitamin A, especially the orange‐
fleshed type (Low et al, 1997)”
Targets
According to UNICEF 2006 report, every year nearly 10 million children under five die
globally. About 4 million newborns (40% of underfive deaths) die in the first four weeks of
life. Although, Africa accounts for only 22% of births globally, half of the 10 million
child deaths annually occur in the continent. Africa is the only continent that has seen
rising numbers of deaths among children under five since the 1970s. It is estimated that
about 4.6 million (46%) under five deaths is in Africa and 98% of these deaths occur
only across 42 developing countries. The greatest number of underfive deaths in the world
occurs in Sierra Leone, Angola and Afghanistan where between 257 and 270 children die for
every 1000 live births. The lowest death rate in the developing world occur in Cuba, Sri
Lanka and Syria, where between 7 to 14 children die for every 1000 live births (Global
Action for Children, 2008). UN estimates that one in every six children dies from childhood
related illness before age five. Underfive mortality in Nigeria is estimated at 191 per 1000
live births. Almost one million children die in Nigeria more than any other country in Africa,
largely from preventable diseases.
By 2025 there will still be 5 million deaths among children under five 97% of them in the developing world, and most of them due to infectious diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, combined with malnutrition.
There are still 24 million lowbirthweight babies born every year. They are more likely to die early, and those who survive may suffer illness, stunted growth or even problems into adult life.
In 1995, 27% (168 million) of all children under 5 were underweight. Mortality rates are 5 times higher among severely underweight children than those of normal weight.
About 50% of deaths among children under 5 are associated with malnutrition. At least two million a year of the underfive deaths could be prevented by existing
vaccines. Most of the rest are preventable by other means.
In Nigeria every single day we lose about 2, 300 underfive year olds and 145 women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the underfive and maternal mortality rate in the world.Research and experience show that six million of the almost 11 million children who die each
year could be saved by lowtech, evidencebased, costeffective measures such as vaccines,
antibiotics, micronutrient supplementation, insecticidetreated bed nets and improved family
care and breastfeeding practices.
At COYEARE we realize that a major contributor to the problem of child mortality and
malnutrition is the problem of poverty, where parents’ lack access to resources to provide for
their children, nutritious meals, access to clean water and competent healthcare services
during child births. This proposa aso tends to provide and income opportunity to sma,
medium and arge scae farmers and entrepreneurs at every eve of its vaue chain, where every
major actor can benefit financiay and resources through engagements in the opportunities
provided from this proposal.
Agriculture being an integral occupation of a larger percentage of the population in Africa
and Nigeria; opening new market opportunities that conforms with already existing
techniques makes adoption and adaptability a whole lot easier vis a vis engagement in such
ventures.
Hence, this proposal also targets the judicious use of the high population in the Nigeria to
promote this fast growing agricultural breakthrough and solve the high rate of poverty
existing amongst over 70% of a population of approximately 170 million people.
BENEFITS IN OFSP PRODUCTION
Nutritional Value: The biofortification of Vitamin A in OFSP gives it an added advantage in
the agricultural market, as consumers would not only benefit from the sweetness and
satisfaction of sweet potato consumption but also its nutritional value, which gives it an edge
over other sweet potato varieties and various roots and tubers. Aside from the idea of
biofortification, sweet potato naturally contains essential vitamins and minerals, in small and
large quantities useful to the body. Table 1 below shows the nutritional composition of sweet
potato:
Table 1: Nutritional Value of Sweet Potatoes (Raw, Uncooked) and Sweet Potato Leaves
Component (per 100g portion) Sweet Potatoes (Raw, Uncooked) Sweet Potato Leaves (Raw)
Water 77.28 86.81
Energy (kcal) 86 42
Protein (g) 1.57 2.49
Fat (g) 0.05 0.51
Carbohydrates (g) 20.12 8.82
Fiber (g) 3.0 5.3
Sugar (g) 4.18 not specified
Calcium (mg) 30 78
Component (per 100g portion) Sweet Potatoes (Raw, Uncooked) Sweet Potato Leaves (Raw)
Iron (mg) 0.61 0.97
Magnesium (mg) 25 70
Phosphorus (mg) 47 81
Potassium (mg) 337 508
Sodium (mg) 55 6
Zinc (mg) 0.3 not specified
Vitamin C (mg) 2.4 11
Thiamin (mg) 0.078 0.156
Riboflavin (mg) 0.061 0.345
Niacin (mg) 0.557 1.130
Vitamin B6 (mg) 0.209 0.190
Folate (mcg) 11 1
Vitamin (IU) 14187 3778
Vitamin E (mg) 0.26 not specified
Vitamin K (mcg) 1.8 30 2.2
Betacarotene (mcg) 8509 2217
Saturated fatty acids (g) 0.018 0.111
Monosaturated fatty acids (g) 0.001 0.020
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (g) 0.014 0.228
Source: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, 2011
Note: The data above is not specific on what sweet potato variety was evaluated, but it gives a full
array based on average values on nutritional contents in sweet potato.
Biofortification: The idea of biofortification is the genetic insemination of micronutrients
into crop varieties, in such a way that as the crop grows the inseminated micronutrients are
contained in it, saving the cost of industrial fortification, delivering adequate nutrients in
crops familiar to both the rural and urban households. Biofortification provides an accessible,
affordable and sustainable means of supplying essential micronutrients to various door steps,
especially in the rural communities where people lack access or resources to acquire
industrially fortified products.
Newness: OFSP is new, with two fresh varieties, attractive and desirable. Opportunities lie in
its various unexplored value chains and processing methods and products, from confectionary
products to bakeries, which would storm the market with newly derivedvitamin A containing
product varieties from biscuits, to bread, chips, crisps, flakes e.t.c
Foreseeable Market Boom: The various possible product opportunities that lie in OFSP
production gives it a feasible futuristic market boom, as consumers tend to have an affinity
towards it already; due to its nutritional value, product diversity, attractiveness and its less
sugary content, which reduces its health hazard and increases if benefits. There’s only a need
to adequately invest in various production and processing methods, the benefits will begin to
roll.
Market Sentiments: The nutritional value of OFSP, particularly its target group (women and
children) appeals to consumers psych, as it provides a platform where there’s a need to save
the lives of both women and children and in some cases pregnant and lactating women, from
the hazard caused as a result of Vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition as a whole, where
OFSP proffers an accessible solution hitherto. Women also being the custodians of the home
tend to understand this need and hence would make it a matter of necessity to ensure family
consumption of OFSP. Children, who are also effective communicators, would adequately
provide the appropriate channel of broadcasting and pressuring parents to purchase OFSP
products, especially in form of biscuits, chips and other well packaged snacks. There’s only a
need to adequately sensitize the populace with effective publicity on the benefits of OFSP
products.
Government and Organizational Encouragements: The government through various
ministries and agencies as well as NonGovernmental Organizations has spearheaded the
publicity of OFSP and its benefits in lieu of encouraging production among local farmers and
consumption in rural and urban areas. Some states e.g Osun state, has incoperated OFSP
amongst its feeding programmes for secondary school children, encouraging local farmers
production by providing an available market in the state. However, even with these
developments the local farmers cannot adequately meet the demand of the state’s feeding
programme, as supply of OFSP are imported from northern states to meet high demand.
There’s however a good intention from the government and other agencies to support OFSP
production, this serves as an added advantage as policies made would favour OFSP farmers
and product producers.
Sector Diversity: The production of OFSP provides a highly diverse involvement of other
sectors aside from agriculture, the health, educational, manufacturing and industrial sectors
are also involved in the chain of OFSP production at various stages, from production to
processing and marketing. This expands OFSP’s market and increases its opportunities, vis a
vis rate of consumption.
Attractiveness: Its yellowish and orange like colour makes it very attractive and enticing,
which indirectly markets itself, as customers are fascinated by products that appeal to a
pleasing sight and a satisfying taste, likewise children tend to get aroused by colour and
delicious tastes, where in OFSP serves both qualities abundantly.
Agronomic Advantages: OFSP has a short gestation period of (34 months) which creates a
platform for an all year round production of OFSP especially using a good irrigation facility.
It has lesser tendency to require the use of fertilizers, with a good soil its yields are good to
go. Agronomic practices of OFSP are the same as that required for the cultivation of sweet
potato local varieties, hence it is familiar amongst farmers, and require lesser need on planting
education. Its familiarity amongst farmers also increases its rate of acceptability, because
farmers tend to subscribe to an innovation that complements an already existing practice or
product, over one that requires the substitution or replacement of an existing practice or
product.
Versatility: The crop is highly versatile as it can be processed into a number of products,
substitute or complement other products, from flour; which can be used in bakeries and
confectionaries, food industries in making noodles, jams, cakes, doughnuts, bread and in fact
prepared as a household meal like amala or eba e.t.c. All parts of the crop has various uses
from leaves to vines and roots, there are no waste materials with OFSP; its leaves are edible
as vegetables which can be used in making soup as it contains more proteins than its roots. Its
leaves decoction serves medicinal purposes ranging from curing asthma, diarrhea, mouth and
throat tumour. Its roots, leaves and vines can be fed to livestock and poultry, as it contains
high amounts or minerals and vitamins. It is used in brewing alcoholic drinks and sweetening
of nonalcoholic drinks, likewise in the production of baby foods due to its high mineral and
nutritious contents.
“Sweetpotato production will be very profitable in Nigeria if processing and further utilization are
promoted. The potentials of the crop will also be very real if the products are sold, thus enhancing
income generating capabilities of the farmers/producers in Nigeria” (Odebode, et.al, 2008)
WHAT DO WE PROPOSE?
Opportunities that lie in sweet potato production are numerous, let alone its improved varieties that
favour more yield and nutritional benefits such as Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato. In line with our goal
against child mortality and malnutrition and the pursuit of rural liberation; this innovation serves to
point out lucrative as well as life saving opportunities that would reshape various economical sectors.
At COYEARE we believe in agriculture and its diverse applications and extensions into various other
sectors, we tend to analyze and decipher ways of developing new ideas and techniques of improving
this sector and encouraging youth and national participation, not centring only on already established
or explored crops’ value chains but opening new ones that would drive sector diversity through
interwoven relationships, where various economical sectors complement each other towards greater
growth and development.
With sweet potato and OFSP we realise its vast unexplored opportunities, which has been primarily
due to lack of knowledge from consumers and investors, over concentration on some other popular
crops (even though not necessarily better), poor industrialization, poor sector diversification, poor
research on certain hindrances of production of the crop e.t.c. We however believe that adequate
investment in selected areas of its value chain can open further opportunities not only in the
agricultural framework but other sectors.
We hence propose the production of OFSP into flour, which serves numerous purposes and is
entangled into various other sectors. OFSP flour can be used as a satisfactory substituting and
complementing product to wheat flour used in bakeries and confectionaries, in the production of cake,
bread, doughnuts, biscuits and various other baked products. This choice is as a result of its (OFSP
flour) product appeal to children in form of biscuits, chin chin, flakes and crisps e.t.c and the
nationwide consumption of bread which will ensure a steady effortless delivery of vitamin A and
accompanying nutrients to people both in the rural and urban areas.
Economically, this choice also aids fast food producers and bakeries, by providing an alternative
following the high cost of wheat flour and the heavy investment been made by government in
importing wheat into the country, both wheat and rice are imported at an annual cost of $600
million annually, an approximate N1.2billion (taking $1=N200). There is however a huge need to
look into other means of flour production, that can serve as an alternative and reduce the cost accrued
by bakeries, as bread is one of the most consumed products in Nigeria and in fact Africa.
Furthermore, it opens up new opportunities for various other enterprises and products, such as biscuits
made from OFSP flour, with an added marketing statement of “vitamin A biofortification and other
nutritional benefits” well packaged flakes, chips, springles, crisps, baby food (combined with cereals,
mixed in custards or paps can be used as ORS) e.t.c that attracts consumers following OFSP’s very
attractive and enticing orange colour.
Likewise the idea of substituting the production of instant noodles made from wheat flour with
noodles made from OFSP flour, which would be more nutritious and filling. Recognising that
noodles are amongst children’s primary daily diet and one of their favourite meals, substituting
or incorporating OFSP flour in the production of noodles would ensure a reliable means of
delivering constant vitamin A to children on a regular basis. Not only children even adults, as
Nigeria is one of the world’s largest consumers of instant noodles.
The production of OFSP flour though being our major target on OFSP, we are however not limited to
it, as the production of its roots would also be encouraged especially in rural communities, likewise
the use of its leaves which is discovered to serve various medicinal purposes particularly curing
the problem of diarrhoea; one of the leading contributors to child mortality in the world.
Also, most of the products derived from OFSP flour are mostly processed by women, and being
custodians of the home, adequate knowledge on the nutritional benefits of the flour would encourage
use as well as facilitate consumption by household members likewise encouraging customers and
other community members (particularly women) to adopt its use in their various homes. This would
also serve as a source of empowerment for women, in taking charge; creating new opportunities
to be explored from OFSP flour.
HOW DO WE PROPOSE?
Any investment or involvement in an agricultural product requires proper understanding especially of
its value chain and enterprises that come into play at various stages, which gives an overview from the
agricultural and economic point of view at the opportunities for various stakeholders and investors.
This could however involve precisely looking at the value chain as related to investors or innovators’
target product or products, or a general overlook at the whole crop production.
We hence propose a look into the value chain of Sweet potato (both OFSP and local sweet potato
have similar value chain analysis, they only differ based on variety and nutritional contents) as it
relates to our target product, from production, processing, marketing and utilization. However as a
result of dearth on data about OFSP being a new variety in Nigeria and its flour also new, most
analysis would be carried out based on data on local sweet potato varieties, but indications would be
made on areas they differ such as yield, colour and nutritional contents.
PRODUCTION
Land Preparation: This involves land clearing, packing, and burning, can be done manually
or mechanically. The choice of method to use in land clearing determines the various actors at
this stage of the chain. However, sweet potato is best planted on a well cleared land with little
or no debris or stumps; as a result it is advisable to employ both manual and mechanized
process.
Tractor operators should be employed to carry out the first phase of clearing, and stumps
should be removed manually. Mechanized process is however more effective and time saving.
Tilling/ploughing and mounding or ridging: Tilling/ploughing helps create loose soil for
optimal sweet potato production performance. Ridge planting is the most common method of
growing sweet potatoes in Nigeria.
Tractor operators should be employed to carry out the process.
Processing of planting materials: Vines serve as planting materials, which can be gotten
from farmers, research stations or multiplication sites. Local farmers acquire vines from their
farms based on last season’s harvests or from friends and community members or farm
cooperative groups. It is imperative to acquire vines that are weevil and disease free, hence
advisable though optional to develop a multiplication site from vines acquired from research
stations or reliable sweet potato farmers with a disease and weevil free farm, this would
guarantee consistent supply of vines and quality yield of roots.
In the case of OFSP vines which has not gone viral and is quite scarce and expensive, due to
its newness and high demand as a result of its production lucrativity and nutritional benefits.
It is advisable to develop a multiplication site from limited quantity which can be acquired
from research stations or local farmers. At COYEARE we have set plans in motion to develop
a multiplication site for OFSP vines, from disease and weevil free vines gotten from reliable
district vine multipliers (DVMs) and research stations. This plan is accompanied with this
proposal.
Planting: Planting begins at the onset of the rainy season and continues for two months
before rain stops. Sweet potatoes may be planted on mounds, ridges, beds, or on flat grounds.
The crop performs best on mounds and poorest on flat grounds. Planting can be done all year
round with an irrigation facility in place.
Manual labour is employed in planting vines.
First weeding: Most sweet potato farmers practice hoe weeding. Sweet potatoes confront
weed problems only during the first two months of growth. After this period, intense vine
growth causes rapid and effective coverage of the ground, smothering the weeds present.
Most smallscale farmers do not bother to weed sweet potato plots at all, due to this
recognized pattern. However, it is recommended to carry out at least a single weeding three
weeks after planting.
Fertilizer application: Sweet potato farmers typically do not apply fertilizers. However,
studies show application significantly improves tuber yields.
Second weeding: Hoe weeding is recommended a second time to ensure weeds do not
prevent tuber growth.
Harvesting: Harvesting occurs 38 months after planting, depending on the sweet potato
variety (OFSP; 34months). Harvesting entails cutting off shoots, carefully digging out tubers
while avoiding bruises, using a fork shovel, long wooden sticks, metal rod with flattened
ends, and hoes. Harvest time is flexible and often staggered. However, harvesting at the
earliest maturation period is recommended to avoid attacks from weevils (beetles) as moisture
in the soil decreases. In times of adverse conditions, only mature tubers are harvested for
consumption or market sale. Small tubers are left to continue growing. Knowing when to
harvest enables farmers to obtain tubers with a desirable dryness composition. Farmers often
leave storage roots in the field during the dry season in the soil and harvest when food
supplies are short.
Table 1 below shows the cost analysis on production of sweet potato (since agronomic practices are
the same or very similar to the local varieties, there is little or no change in the cost of cultivating
OFSP and the local variety sweet potato)
Cost analysis of sweet potato production
Table 1: Sweet potato production cost for an hectare of land (average figures)
Naira (N) Dollar ($)
Fixed costs
Land rent 8, 000 40.00
Depreciation of basic farm equipment 1, 280 6.40
Subtotal (fixed costs) 9, 280 46.40
Variable costs
Land clearing 15, 000 75.00
Ploughing / ridging 7, 800 39.00
Vines 49, 200 246.00
Fertilizer 11, 000 55.00
Planting labour 5, 600 28.00
Weeding 9, 500 47.50
Harvesting 16, 500 82.50
Packaging 3, 700 18.50
Subtotal (variable costs) 118, 300 591.50
Total production cost 127, 580 637.90
Source: Sweet Potato Support Platform for West Africa report [SSPWA (2012)]: $1.00 = N200; average yield
of 10 tonnes/ ha assumed
Cost of production / tonne of Sp = N12,758 (US$63.79)
Farm gate prices range from N2,100 to N2,500 (US$10.50 12.50)/ bag of 125 kg
Price / tonne therefore ranges from N16,800 (US$84) to N20,000 (US$100)
Gross margins of between N4,042 (US$20.21) to N7,242 (US$36.21) / tonne
Rate of return 31.7 % and 56.7%
Farmer Households can earn gross margins of between N40,420 (US$202.1) and N72,420
(US$362.10) / ha /season
Farmers rank Sp lower only to yam in terms of profitability
Consumers rank Sp lower than yam and cassava but higher than Irish potato and cocoyam in terms
of availability and affordability
The production costs above shows the average sum required to cultivate 1 hectare of sweet potato vis
a vis 1 hectare of OFSP. The average yield is assumed to be 10 tonnes/ha; this however varies
significantly as improved varieties of sweet potato have been developed showing yields of over 3040
tonnes/ha. In the case of OFSP, the two most popular varieties in Nigeria (Umuspo/1 and Umuspo/3)
have potential yields as high as 63.6 metric tonnes/ha and 31.4 metric tonnes/ha respectively.
However, there has been a significant gap between potential yields of improved varieties and actual
yields derived by local farmers. Local farmers’ record average yields of 47tonnes/ha, this has been
attributed primarily to poor management practices employed by local farmers who fail to adhere to
appropriate planting techniques and methods that guarantees high and quality crop yield.
Production of OFSP with appropriate planting techniques can record an average of 15
20tonnes/hectare, evidence has been shown in South Africa where commercial producers of OFSP
record as high as 50tonnes/ha.
“Sweet potato can grow in tropical, sub tropical and temperate areas of sub Saharan Africa.
Although average yields on farmers’ fields in Africa are low (4‐6tonnes/ha), sweet potato can easily
yield in excess of 15tonnes/ha under rainfed conditions if key recommended practices are used.
Commercial growers in South Africa using best management practices produce 50 tonnes/ha”
[Reaching Agents of Change (RAC) report, 2012]
PROCESSING
Sweet potato can be produced into a number of products based on need, as it is used as a raw material
for various industrial products such as starch and pharmaceutical items. It can be boiled and
consumed for household meals, served as porridge, fried as chips and crisps for both home and
commercial consumption e.t.c. This proposal would focus on products relating to its target of OFSP
production, which are products that would guarantee regular consumption of OFSP in order to deliver
daily dietary vitamin A quantity needed for the body on a regular basis.
The primary focus of this proposal is the production of OFSP to serve as an effective
substitute/supplement for wheat flour in bakeries, confectionaries and various manufacturing
industries that makes use of wheat flour in food production. Recognizing the fact that products
derived from flour are consumed on daily basis e.g bread, biscuits and the rising consumption of
instant noodles made from wheat flour.
The processing of sweet potato roots into flour involves the following:
Acquisition of Sweet potato roots: Sweet potato roots can be bought and transported to the
processing unit. Sweet potato farmers should be contacted for purchase of roots, and transporters
employed to convey roots to processing unit.
Washing: Cleaning roots of dirt and other stains before proceeding to the next phase. Manual labour
should be employed in the process of washing, mostly women and children are engaged in this.
Blanching (Optional): This process involves subjecting the roots to a specific temperature (800C for
15minutes); this is done locally by pouring hot water on roots, and can also be carried out
mechanically. This process enables the softening of roots’ flesh and makes peeling a lot easier,
thereby reducing percentage lost while peeling.
Blanching is optional because evidence has shown that the predrying treatment of sweet potato roots
by blanching has produced flour products that are unacceptable, especially after processing into chips;
it affects its crispness.
“While Unblanched‐sodium metabisulphite and Unblanched+sodium metabisulphite sweet potato
chips’ flours were suitable and acceptable for
production of chin‐chin, the Blanched‐sodium metabisulphite and Blanched+sodium metabisulphite
were unsuitable and unacceptable at 100%
composition of the flour”(Oyebanji, et.al, 2013)
Peeling: This is done to remove the outer layer of the roots, revealing the inner layer for processing.
This is mostly done manually with knife; women and children are mostly engaged in this. Peeling can
also be carried out mechanically, however most machines developed for roots peeling have not
recorded effective results as the percentage root loss using mechanical peeling is more than that using
manual peeling process. Adequate research is still needed in this processing phase as it accounts for
the highest loss of roots as a result of peeling. Sweet potato peeling loss can be as high as 22.240%
based on varieties.
Washing: Cleaning of peeled roots for slicing, carried out by manual labour.
Slicing: This involves cutting roots into small sizes to increase surface area and make drying and
milling effective and easier. Slicing can be carried out manually or mechanically using a slicer or
grater.
Drying: This is one of the most important phases of flour production, as the moisture quantity in the
roots determines the quality of flour to be produced. Too much moisture leads to mouldiness; too less
affects the standard 10% recommended by flour mills as the safe moisture percentage level.
However, a standard drying of about 60800C temperature for 5 hours has shown satisfactory and
standard quality flour production, provided mechanical drying method is employed, which is the best,
time saving, most effective method of drying. Mechanical drying is a constraint for local farmers due
to the cost of acquiring dryers, the cost and skill of operation. Drying could also be carried out by sun
drying or solar drying, the commonly used method is sun drying as it is cost effective since the sun
provides a free input. This method is however slow and is open to contamination from dirt and
impurities which affects the quality of flour produced. It is also time consuming, proper drying could
take as long as 1520hours of open sun drying depending on quantity.
Milling: Dried sliced roots or chips are grinded to powder, to a considerably brittle state, to guarantee
quality flour. Milling is done mechanically.
Sieving: This is carried out to remove large particles or any other impurities from the flour. Sieving is
carried out manually or mechanically.
SWEET POTATO FLOUR: After sieving, standard quality flour is obtained that can be used in
making all kinds of products.
Figure 1: A flow chart showing key processes involved in sweet potato flour production
The production of sweet potato flour opens up a number of opportunities and would be economically
advantageous judging from the high cost of wheat flour and in turn high cost of production in
bakeries. The supplementation of sweet potato flour would save bakeries about 1015% cost of
production, this goes for confectionary industries, instant noodle factories and fast food outlets. Aside
from reducing the cost expended on purchase of wheat flour, it also reduces cost on sugar, as sweet
potato is naturally sweet.
However, with all these advantages and opportunities in sweet potato flour production, it has been
shown to be economically disadvantageous from the financial point of view, based on cost of
processing the roots into flours. Relatively, the cost of purchasing wheat flour is found to be cheaper
compared to sweet potato flour, except for sweet potato puree or mash, which is over 25% more
economically advantageous than wheat flour. Although sweet potato puree is not a standard quality
product accepted by commercial bakeries and confectioneries, but could be used for household
production or street side sellers of sweet potato fried chips and snacks.
This set back has been the major hindrance towards sweet potato flour production. Table 3 below
shows the cost of production of sweet potato flour:
Table 3: Estimated cost of producing Sweet Potato Flour (SPF) and Sweet Potato puree (SPP) in
Nigeria
Sundried SPF Mechanicallydried SPF SP Puree
Cost of fresh roots per tonne 20,000.00 20,000.00 20,000.00
Transport cost to processing unit 1625.00 1625.00 3200.00*1
Peeling/grating/dewatering 1050.00 1050.00 600.00*2
Boiling and mashing 0.00 0.00 1200.00
Drying 300.00 2370.00 0.00
Milling and sieving 500.00 500.00 0.00
Packaging 300.00 300.00 50.00
Fixed and other costs 600.00 600.00 600.00
Subtotal 24, 375.00 26, 445.00 24, 075.00
Conversion rate 20% 20% 75%
Breakeven price per tonne 121, 875.00 132, 225.00 32, 100.00
Wholesale price/tonne of wheat flour 112, 000.00 112, 000.00 112, 000.00
Savings on inclusion of Sweet Potato (9,875.00) (20,225.00) 79,900.00
Table 3 shows that option of including sweet potato in the form of flour is not financially feasible.
The cost of sweetpotato flour produced by means of mechanical drying is far higher than the sun
dried flour.
Mechanical drying preferred by endusers because of the assurance of delivery of foodgrade flour
on a consistent basis.
Constraint to Sweet Potato Flour Production
The flour can compete on cost basis only if fresh roots used in producing foodgrade sundried
flour is reduced by 9.9 percent of the average harvest season farm gate price.
For mechanicallydried sweet potato flour to compete at the same price as wheat flour, the price
of the fresh roots has to fall by over 20 percent of the average harvest season farm gate price.
We do not anticipate this occurring unless there is substantial overproduction of the crop.
Table 3 further shows that the option of using mashed sweet potato (puree) can lead to substantial
cost savings as it costs less than 30 % of the cost of the wheat flour it can replace.
Option discussed with some bakers:
Indications are that it may be attractive to small to mediumscale bakers if they can obtain regular
supplies of puree from reputable processors who can guarantee consistent compliance with food
quality standards.
Willing to produce the puree onsite if supply of roots is regular.
It may be possible to pilot this in the Keffi area where an identified trader can supply fresh roots
obtained from the northern states to about five mediumscale bakers in the community
The largerscale bakers and biscuits manufacturers unwilling to substitute sweet potato in the form
of the puree, arguing that it will entail additional logistics management.
The flour is preferred but cannot be justified on the grounds of cost.
Similar considerations will appear to limit the scope for partial substitution of wheat flour in
producing noodles.
utilising the mashed puree in producing noodles could create demand for fresh sweet potato roots
However, the logistic challenges for the industry in using the puree need to be addressed and
awareness about the opportunities created in the industry if uptake is to be encouraged.
(Sweet Potato Support Platform West Africa REPORT, 2012)
OUR PRACTICAL SOLUTION AND IDEA
At COYEARE we belief in solving problems, creating opportunities and opening up various avenues,
which led to the proper scrutiny on militating factors in the production of sweet potato flour. The
following key facts were derived as the major constraints:
The high cost of sweet potato roots at farm gate price of N21002500/ 125kg bag (N20,
000/tonne) which contributes the largest percentage (75%) of sweet potato flour production
using any method.
Higher cost of production of mechanically dried sweet potato flour, followed by sun dried and
puree being the least expensive
Mechanically dried sweet potato flour most acceptable form of SP flour, yet most expensive
to produce
Puree, the least expensive method of producing sweet potato flour but having less
acceptability in terms of food grade quality and logistic expenses for use
The relative cost of wheat flour is way cheaper than both sun and mechanically dried sweet
potato flour, which are still the most readily acceptable form of producing SPF to be used as
substitutes or supplements of wheat flour.
The low conversion rate (20%; 200kg) of both sundried and mechanically dried method of
SP flour.
The major question posed is targeted towards the cost of production of sweet potato flour. One way to
counter this constraint is by anticipating a reduction in the farm gate price of sweet potato roots,
which is very much unlikely and shouldn’t be encouraged as it would affect income derived by sweet
potato farmers and might as a result discourage production. A major constraint also recognized is the
low conversion rate of the roots into flour, with just 20% conversion rate, 200kg from 1tonne of sweet
potato roots, compared to 75% (750kg) obtained from processing 1 tonne of roots into puree. This
accounts for the large difference in the breakeven price of all three methods.
However, the solution to the high cost of production of sweet potato flour also lies in its most obvious
problem. Instead of purchasing sweet potato roots at the cost of N20, 000/tonne, why not
cultivate it? The cost of production of 1 tonne of sweet potato roots is N12, 758 (Table 2 above),
this would save a sum of N7, 242 (27% reduction) from the total cost of production of sweet
potato flour using any method, including SP puree.
This proposal would focus on the mechanical drying method of producing sweet potato flour, as it is
the best method to use in guaranteeing food grade quality flour, meeting baker’s standard and
ensuring regular delivery, as it is time saving. Hence, due to 27% reduction in total cost of production
of the flour; the cost of processing 1tonne of sweet potato roots into flour (200kg) using the
mechanical drying method is N19, 203 ($96.01) contrary to the initial N26, 445 ($132.22). And the
cost of producing 1 tonne of sweet potato flour is N96, 015 ($480.07), contrary to initial N132, 225
($661.12), saving a total sum of N36, 210 ($181.05) of cost of production using this idea. Thus
making it more economically viable compared to the cost of 1 tonne of wheat flour N112, 000 ($560).
Hence, the following facts can now be deduced as a result of this (all figures are based on mechanical
drying method):
Average yield of Sweet potato roots per hectare = 10 tonnes (OFSP; 1315tonnes)
Cost of production of sweet potato roots per hectare = 127, 580
Cost of production of 1 tonne of sweet potato roots = 12, 758
1 tonne of sweet potato roots = 200kg of sweet potato flour (SPF)
Cost of processing 1 tonne of SP roots producing 200kg of SPF = N19, 203
5 tonnes of SP roots = 1 tonne of SPF
1 hectare of SP roots’ cultivation = 2 tonnes of SPF
Cost of producing 1 tonne of SPF = N96, 015
Wholesale cost of 1 tonne of wheat flour = N112, 000
Savings on inclusion of Sweet potato flour = N15, 985
This Proposal was composed by LOLA OLAWALE MUHAMMED, the President and Founder of the
Council of Youths on Education, Agriculture and Rural Emancipation in pursuit of its target of
curbing the problem of Child Mortality and malnutrition in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, with the
project tag “Saving Our Future”
