Abstract
Sweet potatoes present an opportunity for improving food security and income generation in South Africa. The yield of sweet potatoes is highly dependent on the quality of sweet vines used in production. This study aimed at identifying the most cost effective and best storage bag type, between polyethylene and hessian bags, to prolong vine storage. Three bag treatments namely polyethylene bag without holes, polyethylene bag with 12 holes and dry hessian with vines from sweet potato cultivar “Bophelo” were stored for 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days at ambient temperature during summer. The costs effectiveness of using different types of bags when transporting and storing vines was calculated using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The results of the study showed that hessian bags offer the best option to prolong storage (12 days) as compared to polyethylene bags (6 days), however hessian bags are more expensive (R49.10/1 day quality) ($4.08 as at 24/01/2018). Polyethylene bags can be used if the farmer is not willing to pay the additional cost for an addition day of quality. Holes need to be made in polyethylene bags in order to allow air circulation.
Highlights
The world population is projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, with most of the growth expected from developing countries, from Africa (UN News, 2013)
The rate of deterioration is higher for vines stored in polyethylene bags as compared to those in hessian bags
The vines that were stored in the polyethylene bags with no holes started wilting and rotting after day 3, while those in the polyethylene bags with 12 holes and those in the hessian bags remained firm (Table 2)
Summary
The world population is projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, with most of the growth expected from developing countries, from Africa (UN News, 2013). The challenge of food insecurity of about 50% of the population in South Africa and malnutrition of more than 40% of children under 5 years in the country, suggest the need to pay increased attention to food production aspects. Sweet potatoes present a significant potential for increasing food production, income generation, improving food security and reducing malnutrition in South Africa. Sweet potatoes can be accepted in both production and consumption by low-income populations, as the crop is a popular traditional crop in certain areas of the country (Laurie & Magoro, 2008). There is a potential growth in household income generation and even industrial use of sweet potatoes, for example in making snacks, flour, baby food, jam, bread and biscuits. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene; help fight vitamin A deficiency, which can cause blindness or death among pregnant women and children (Montrone et al, 2009)
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