Hi Eric,

If you are thinking of adding value to the sweet potato then you might start thinking of some transformations of the sweet potato using the high starch content. This could be done either with some simpler transformations and selling the starch to manufacturing companies and/or later on doing soem more complex transformations. Sweet potato starch can be used for the manufacture of noodles textiles and papers, adhesives and in laundries.

Find more info here http://www.starch.dk/isi/starch/sweetpotato.htm

I think this is something worth exploring.

Raul

If sweet potato is a staple food, the community must first ensure adequate supplies throughout the year for their own consumption for food.

The quantum of surplus stock in each season, and annually, must be established based on historical data of the past few years.

Diversion of the crop for sale outside the region, or for non-food uses like starch etc, must be done only with the surplus quantity.

If the above is not ensured, it could adversely affect the availability of this staple food for the local population, and their food bill will increase.

Vijai

Hi! I am new to this website,and was wondering how far has the progress been on this particular topic...and may I contribute to the growing research?

Hi Raul,

Thank you. very wonderful and new ideas to us. We only knew we could cut it into small pieces and use it to make crisps and or biscuits. The suggestion of papers, adhesives etc is relatively new to us and is worth thinking about. I will read through your link and see the detailed information. Potatoes are available in large quantities in kabondo and i think this is something worth exploring as you say.

Thanks

Eric

Hi Raphael,

Thank you, i would appreciate.I have read your links and they provide useful information on people we could network and collaborate with to ensure our project becomes a reality.

Thank you.

Eric

Eric

Hi Vijai,

Kabondo relies on two staple food. maize and potatoes. Potatoes have been consumed over long periods of time and many locals no longer make it part of their diet. They prefer sending it out to others since they say 'they are tired of the taste of sweet potatoes.' What they cannot do without is maize and the level of hunger or famine in any given year is measured by the quantity of maize one has in his grain store.

Potatoes may therefore be consumed in very extreme circumstances when there exists no other alternative.

Eric

Louise,

Thank you. These are the suggestions we are seeking so the farmers are not exploited through selling bulk produce to middlemen for a song. Infact i strongly feel the most sustainable way to help the orphans and vulnerable children of Kabondo is to help their guardians and the poor widows who care for them engage constructively in productive agriculture through fruitful exploitation of what they have next door-potatoes.

I beleive maximum income can be attained from sweet potatoes if the locals are trained to engage in better farming practices, value addition and market linkages are secured.

Eric

ok Eric. In that case this text under the title is a bit misleading - "Sweet potatoes are commonly grown in Kabondo and are a staple food."

Cheers

Vijai