Nutritional sweet potatoes conquering Serbian market – Sweet potatoes more profitable than traditional produce

(Sweet potatoes) The nutritional sweet potatoes are increasingly more present in Serbia, and this somewhat exotic plant is increasingly being sown in Serbian farms as well.

Despite its name and appearance, the sweet potato is entirely unrelated to the regular potato. This perennial tropical plant originates in Central and South America and is grown in Serbia as an annual plant. Secondary root growths and young green leaves are used as food, as they are full of minerals and vitamins. The most popular sweet potatoes are those with white, orange and purple roots.

The largest producer of sweet potatoes in Serbia is Mitar Persic from Golubinci near Stara Pazova. He's been producing sweet potatoes since 2005 and he became interested in growing the plant when he learned it was beneficial to health. Persic says for our web portal that the biggest investments in starting the production are time and energy.

– The production of sweet potatoes can be more profitable than the production of traditional plants like corn and wheat, but it also requires much more time and care, starting from preparation of land, seedlings, sowing, protection from weeds, harvesting, storing... - our interviewee points out.

– Weather conditions are another important factor, since the sweet potato is a tropical plant and can't thrive in low temperatures.

Sweet potatoes take three to five months without frost and low temperatures for quality growth and development. The Institute for Vegetable Crops in Smederevska Palanka explains that daytime temperatures from 21 to 25°C are required, whereas minimum nighttime temperatures mustn't go below 12°C. If the temperature rises above 30°C or drops below 15°C for a longer period of time, the growth slows down, which leads to lower yields. The plants deteriorate at temperatures below 10°C.

Sweet potatoes require well-drained soil, as excess water causes the roots to deteriorate. The optimum soil pH value for sweet potatoes ranges between 5.5 and 5.6 (acidic soil).

In Serbia, sweet potatoes are grown from seedlings exclusively, after the danger of frost has passed, in May, or even June, as sweet potatoes develop sufficiently heavy roots in only 90 days. Producers point out that it is important to water the seedlings well, after which it is not necessary to water them further, except in cases of extreme drought. It is recommended that the soil is properly tilled and that raised beds are used, along with black plastic foil which prevents the growth of weed and at the same time maintains the necessary amounts of humidity and raises the temperature, which is very beneficial to the plant. The distance between rows should be 120 cm, and between plants 30-40 cm. Sweet potatoes are harvested in late September and October.

– Investments are similar to those in the production of regular potatoes, and with full implementation of agrotechnology (tilling, dressing, irrigation, care measures), yields of sweet potatoes can reach 25 tons per hectare, depending on the manner of cultivation – the Institute says.

The regular market length of a sweet potato is 15-20 cm, and the recommended weight is 150 to 400 grams. The weight of a single plant, however, can reach 5 kg. Sweet potatoes are not exported from Serbia at the moment, and we import the most from Croatia.

Persic says that sweet potatoes are becoming more popular among consumers, as people are becoming more aware of how healthy it is for both children and adults. It is extremely beneficial to one's health and doesn't contain fats and cholesterol. A hundred grams contain 129 calories, 29 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of proteins, and due to its high mineral (magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium) and vitamin (C, E, A, B) content, it supplies the body with important anti-oxidants.

The price of sweet potatoes in retail stores ranges from RSD 200 to 450 per kilogram.

I.B.