Sweet Potato Production and Utilization in Asia and the Pacific*

This chapter discusses production and utilization methods of sweet potato in Asia and the Pacific. Historically, sweet potato has played an indispensable role as a source of food in Asia and the Pacific Islands. In 1980, the crop was ranked number four in Asia in terms of total food production following rice, sugar cane, and wheat. Regardless of the importance of sweet potato in Asia, the production area actually decreased steadily in most countries in these areas. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures in Asia and the Pacific were listed at 29.6°C and 18.5°C during the major sweet potato growing seasons. Most production areas in Asia and the Pacific were characterized by both high day and night temperatures. In Asia and the Pacific, disease and insect pests were ranked as the most important production constraints for sweet potato, followed by storage, processing and marketing problems, and the lack of improved cultivars.