I want to grow orange-flesh sweet potato (OFSP) for the nutrition market and biofortified value. Which varieties are recommended and how do I source clean vines?
Orange-flesh sweet potato is grown for its high beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A), which is why it sells into nutrition and health-food channels. Public varieties bred for Indian conditions include types released by ICAR-CTCRI Thiruvananthapuram (such as the Bhu Sona and Sree-series orange types) and material promoted through CIP (International Potato Center) tie-ups. The single most important thing is to plant clean, virus-free vine cuttings, because sweet potato runs down fast if you keep replanting infected material. Get your first planting material from CTCRI, a State Agriculture University, or your KVK rather than from an unknown field. Confirm the exact variety name and availability with your local KVK because what is released and stocked changes by state.
I started OFSP in Khordha district two seasons ago with vines from KVK. The deep orange types look great but they are softer and sweeter, so explain to buyers it is not the same as the pale local shakarkand. Took me time to find buyers who valued the colour.
Keep your own nursery bed of healthy vines once you get clean material. That way you are not buying cuttings every year. But rogue out any plant that looks stunted or mottled.
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