Benefits of consuming orange-fleshed sweet potatoes

Potatoes are root vegetables, which have very good nutritional benefits to both farmers and the consumers because of how easy it is to plant and how stress-free it is to cook. They are starchy and have an earthly flavour when consumed. Potatoes are known to be grown in places with colder weather or in garden that has lot of leaf. However, one beautiful thing to know about potatoes is that they in different varieties.

Research further shows that there are over 400 varieties of potatoes exist, of which the commonest are the sweet potatoes and the Irish potatoes, which are commonly taken. Bio-fortified, orange sweet potatoes is another specie of potatoes commonly planted in Kirinyaga, Kenya. These form of potatoes are usually rich in beta carotene, which when processed and converted can lead to a finished product of vitamin A, C, iron, fibre, potassium, carbohydrate and protein. Over the times, this new variety of potatoes have nutritional benefits in the body system such as helping in gaining of weight, boost immunity, ease digestion, treating of bronchitis, arthritis and also helping in treating stomach ulcer.

According to a research, the orange fleshed sweet potatoes can contribute a large quota to being part of what cures under-nourishment in among over 73,000 children in Kirinyaga, Kenya, who are at the risk of dying. In an interview with a commercial farmer in Kirinyaga, who is a specialist in the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes plantation, George Aristotle, explained that its seed can be planted on any soil, especially the loamy soil because of its ability to retain water easily due to the fertile ground, and also can help sustain the growth of the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes during its developmental stage into vine. Aristotle added that besides the peculiarity of the soil, Kirinyaga is also known for its good climatic system, which makes the plant to grow within two to three months.

While speaking with newsmen, he encouraged every agribusiness man or woman, who intends to start the farming of the orange fleshed sweet potatoes to put in consideration, land preparation as well as collaboration with other farmers, who have experience in the plantation. According to him, the three parts of the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes have their own usefulness in unique ways. The upper part, which is the leafy part, can be eaten as leafy vegetable; the second part, which is the vine, is excellent supplement for dairy animals while the crop residues can be used as silage.

Although, the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes is mostly planted in Kenya and Sumbari, it can also be planted in Nigeria with the right plantation method and guidance by other experienced farmers. The potatoes can either be baked, simmered, steamed, fried or roasted, as when cooked gives a soft and moist texture unlike the white fleshed sweet potatoes that becomes dry and crumbly when cooked.

Farmers, who decide to invest in this agribusiness have greater chances of making much profits as the roots of these potatoes when planted produces many seeds per roots hence more profit. A platform has been launched for the plantation of this kind of crop in Nigeria by the Nigeria Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), school feeding programme, processors, farmers and academic institutions. This is because Nigeria has been found to be the third largest producer in the world after China and Uganda with an annual production estimated at 3.9 million metric tons per year, as it can thrive in marginal soil and has broad agro-ecological adaptability, which makes it thrive in most Nigerian states.

Despite these advantageous benefits of the potato, its expedient that farmers also prepare for the challenges that come with the planting, which may include low yields, limited utilisation and consumption, as these could result into poor agronomic practices, limited processing capacity, poor vine and root storage technologies, and poor communication, among key actors along the value chain.