Sweet potato is the seventh largest crop grown worldwide from across Asia pacific, Africa to the Americas. Although the exact location of its origin is unknown, it is believed to have originated in the tropical region of central and South America. The skin and flesh of sweet potatoes can be of different colors. China is the major producer of this crop, which for many years has been a staple diet for many African nations. In the context of Nepal, sweet potato can be a game-changing crop. The diverse geographical terrain and small land holder farmers of Nepal can grow this crop to gain maximum profit. It can be cultivated in warmer to moderate climes such as the terai, inner terai and the hilly regions. The crop prefers sandy loam soil with almost neutral pH (5.5-6.5). As this crop can easily withstand drought, it might be profitable for farmers in hilly areas of Nepal where there is less rainfall, especially western and far-western parts of Nepal. Sweet potato is not only drought-tolerant but also requires less fertilizer inputs. It is a high-yielding crop richer in nutrients than rice, wheat, potato and sorghum. Most of the farmers in Nepal are of subsistence type, so the crop can ensure food safety to them. This crop can be commercially cultivated in marginal lands with very minimum effort compared to other crops.

Sweet potato contains high amounts of fiber, sodium, carbohydrate, proteins and major nutrients such as iron, vitamin A and potassium. Despite its name, sweet potato and regular potatoes have almost equal amount of ‘sweetness’ in them. But sweet potatoes are much healthier than regular potatoes. The crop is a major source of vitamin A as it contains the compound called beta carotene. Vitamin A is an essential nutrient required in small amounts for maintaining healthy growth and development, particularly in growing children, pregnant and lactating mothers.

Cheap production cost, high nutrient availability and delicious nature make this crop a huge success in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. It can be a cash crop for women and children in Nepal as well. Incorporating sweet potato in the diet, the Nepalese society too can make their meals more nutrient-rich. For prospective farmers Farmers should be aware of a few things while growing sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes do not grow in tightly compact, water-logged and alkaline soil. The crop requires sandy, easily drainable and neutral pH soil. Sweet potatoes are susceptible to cold temperatures. The plant shows no sign of development during low temperatures and may wilt in frosts. Soil-borne pathogens such as nematodes and weevils are major agricultural pests that destroy the entire field of sweet potatoes. Currently, sweet potato is a niche crop in Nepal. There is no actual data on production of this crop in Nepal, whereas the world average varies from 6.5 to 15.5 tons per hectare. It is mostly grown for household purposes in kitchen gardens, consumed mostly during the Hindu festivals (Thula Ekadasi and Makar Sankranti) and does not have a huge market at present. However, it is a crop with huge potential because the demand for nutrient-rich food is high among the children and women. Apart from Nepal, the possible market can be both India and China. However, this crop has not received the attention it deserves in Nepal. Lack of high-yielding varieties, lack of technical personnel (including sweet potato breeders) and limited knowledge among farmers about this crop are some of the major constraints hindering the growth of this crop in Nepal. National Agriculture Research Council in Khumaltar (Lalitpur), private sector and INGOs have done a little bit of research on this crop. Government must invest in research areas such as variety development, dissemination of knowledge and incentives to farmers. If cultivated commercially, the crop can help address major hunger issues prevalent in Nepal. The writer is student at School of Plant, environment, and soil sciences (SPESS), Louisiana state university