Economics of Sweet Potato Production

Abstract

Sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam)] is a rain-fed vegetable crop grown in the tropics where new varieties have been developed. However, economic efficiency needs to be ascertained for sustainability. Profitability, scale, and resource use efficiency in sweet potato production were analyzed using data from 90 producers. Cost and returns analysis indicates that labor accounted for 68% of total cost of production and that sweet potato production is profitable. Yield had a greater impact in improving profitability and capital inputs had the least impact in reducing profit. Experience, planting material, output transportation to market, adoption of new varieties, fertilizer level, and full-time farming positively influenced sweet potato output. There is scale inefficiency and no input was used efficiently. Fertilizers and transportation were underutilized; rent, farm implements, planting material, chemicals, and labor were overused. An increase in scale of sweet potato production, more capital inputs, and increase in yield can improve efficiency in sweet potato production.