ABSTRACT
Average annual yields of sweet potatoes have increased by 184 kg/ha, while the area planted has decreased drastically. The decrease in area planted can be attributed to sweet potato’s unfavorable comparison with competing products in labor demanded, economics, and status as a food. Since sweet potato is a relatively nonperishable, low-cost commodity to handle, marketing agents like its consistent profit margin. The most efficient marketing channel was found to involve only two marketing intermediaries who preferred to take a smaller profit in the interest of handling larger volumes. Sweet potato uses are as follows: starch production, of which the starch is used for food and medicine; the waste becomes animal feed, citric acid, and other chemical products; the bulk of the remainder becomes animal feed, with a small amount going to human consumption.
