SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L.) PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA: A SYNOPTIC REVIEW OF ITS IMPORTANCE, PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS.

Abstract

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) originated in South America and was introduced by Christopher Columbus to
Spain in 1492. Its cultivation in Africa first started in Sao Tome in 1520 and was brought to Nigeria between 1694
and 1894 by Portuguese traders. The crop belongs to the family of Convolvulaceae with more than 1000 species
of which Ipomoea batatas remains the most important species. It is a trailing crop with varying leaf shapes, colour
and sizes which are subject to varieties. Sweet potato economic roots could be cream, yellow, purple, red, or
white fleshed. In Nigeria today, eleven varieties of sweet potato have been isolated by National Root Crop
Research Institute, Umudike and given to farmers. Sweet potato is a short duration crop that thrives within three
to five months after planting and its temperature requirement ranges between 20 to 28 ºC while annual rainfall is
between 500 to 1250 mm. Sweet potato has several benefits of economic values as it is highly rich in vitamin A
and other important minerals needed for proper functioning of human body. It also has low glycemic index.
However, its production in Nigeria has been confronted with enormity of plights ranging from poor funding to
outbreak of sweet potato virus disease, nevertheless, its potential prospects are clearly seen as it is a source of bio-
fuel and food fortification.