Sweet Potato in the Caribbean: things that you wanted to know, but did not know whom to ask

Lots of research and trials into various aspects of sweet potato production and processing have been done in the Caribbean, but many farmers and food processors have not been able to access the results of the research and trials. Often the research information remains in the domain of the research institution with very little, if any, outreach to targeted groups who may benefit from the information. Sometimes, the information is not translated and packaged into a format for ease of uptake among the various stakeholder groups, and remain mostly an academic exercise.

Recently, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank has made a renewed attempt to prepare useful information on sweet potato, that is potentially useful to many stakeholders throughout the Caribbean and elsewhere in the world.

The Multicrop Facility Ltd was engaged to produce a series of short videos (among other things), on various aspects of sweet potato agronomy, processing and value addition. Below are the links to these video documentaries which you may use or share with persons or agencies with an interest in sweet potato.

Sweet Potato Production and Use in the Caribbean

Sweet Potato Varieties Adaptability and Identification

Sweet Potato Agronomy

Sweet Potato Pest and Disease Management

Returns per Drop Water Use Management

Fertilisation and Nutrient Status in Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato Post-Harvest Management

Marketing Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato a Tasty Nutraceutical

New Opportunities in Business

Status of the Sweet Potato Industry

Hopefully, these short videos will stimulate further interest in sweet potato as a strategic commodity to improve healthy lifestyles and sustainable livelihoods.

Root Crops In Abundance But Added Value Through Processing Underutilised

Root crops like cassava, sweet potato, yam, and dasheen form a significant part of agricultural production in CARICOM countries, yet surprisingly little processing occurs locally. Despite their cultural importance and agronomic suitability to Caribbean conditions, these crops rarely undergo transformation beyond basic harvesting and packaging. This represents a missed opportunity for economic development, employment creation, and food security enhancement across the region.

Root crops for sale in a Caribbean outdoor market.

The Current State of Root Crop Processing

Across CARICOM nations, root crops are predominantly sold as fresh produce in local markets. Minimal processing typically involves washing, sorting, and basic packaging. More advanced value-added activities such as flour production, snack manufacturing, or starch extraction remain underdeveloped. This limited processing means that domestic producers capture only a fraction of potential value, while imported processed products dominate supermarket shelves.

Sweet potato packaged for sale in a supermarket

Sweet potato staked for sale in an outdoor market

Key Challenges Limiting Processing Development

1. Scale and Consistency of Production

Many Caribbean root crop farmers operate at small scales with limited mechanisation and modern agronomy methods resulting in:

- Inconsistent supply volumes for processors;

- Seasonal availability fluctuations;

- Poor control of pests and diseases;

- Quality variations that complicate standardised processing.

2. Infrastructure and Technology Gaps

Processing facilities require significant investment in:

- Specialized equipment for washing, peeling, slicing, drying and milling;

- Food-grade production facilities meeting international standards;

- Reliable electricity and water supply, which remains challenging in some areas;

- Refrigeration infrastructure for perishable intermediate products.

3. Market Development Barriers

Processed root crop products face market challenges including:

- Limited consumer awareness and established preferences for imported alternatives;

- Underdeveloped marketing channels for novel local products;

- Difficulty accessing regional and international markets;

- Price competition from imported processed starches and flours.

 4. Policy and Institutional Constraints

The processing sector struggles with:

- Limited access to affordable financing for agro-processing ventures;

- Insufficient extension services focused on processing technologies;

- Regulatory hurdles in food safety certification;

- Weak or expensive linkages between research institutions and private sector processors.

Pathways to Stimulate Local Processing

1. Producer Organization Development

Supporting farmers to organize into cooperatives or producer associations would:

- Aggregate production to achieve necessary scale;

- Facilitate shared investments in post-harvest handling;

- Improve negotiating position with buyers and processors;

- Enable collaborative approaches to quality standardisation, including use of existing standards.

2. Targeted Infrastructure Investment

Strategic investments should prioritize:

- Community-level primary processing facilities in major production zones;

- Shared equipment services for small-scale processors;

- Renewable energy solutions to ensure reliable power for processing operations;

- Improved storage facilities to extend seasonal availability.

3. Product Development and Market Creation

Growing the market for processed root crop products requires:

- Research and development focused on new product formats appealing to consumers preferences and life styles;

- Product formulation to improve shelf stability and convenience;

- Marketing campaigns highlighting nutritional benefits and cultural connections;

- School feeding and institutional procurement programmes to create stable demand.

4. Policy and Regulatory Support

Governments can catalyse processing through:

- Tax incentives for agro-processing investments and facilitate ease of access;

- Streamlined regulatory processes for small-scale food processors;

- Technical assistance programmes for food safety compliance;

- Tariff adjustments to protect new or emerging processing industries;

- Facilitating access to public-private partnerships, including research and development.

5. Skills Development and Knowledge Transfer

Building human capacity through:

- Technical training in food processing technologies;

- Business management education, including financial literacy for small-scale processors;

- Knowledge exchange with successful root crop processing regions/entities;

- Youth entrepreneurship programmes focused on agro-processing.

Initiatives Across CARICOM

Several countries in the CARICOM have made some progress in the processing of root crops into flour, crispy chips and fries (as a substitute for the white potato fries). However, much more needs to be done to expand such production to increase import substitution and reduce our dependence on such foreign goods.

Sweet potato flour, St Vincent and the Grenadines

Sweet potato fries, Barbados

Dasheen Waffle Mix from Tobago

Cassava flour, Guyana

                    

Conclusion

The underdevelopment of root crop processing in CARICOM represents both a challenge and an opportunity. By addressing production constraints, investing in appropriate technology, developing consumer markets, and creating supportive policy environments, Caribbean nations can unlock significant economic value while enhancing food security and reducing import dependence.

A comprehensive approach engaging farmers, processors, researchers, policymakers, and consumers is needed to transform this sector. With strategic intervention, root crops could transition from traditional staples to dynamic inputs for a vibrant agro-processing industry, creating wealth and employment throughout CARICOM nations.

 Cocoa and Coffee Today - highest price on the world market in decades!

According to an article in Market Watch updated on 22nd December 2024, cocoa was the best performing commodity of 2024, even beating bitcoin (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/cocoas-the-best-performing-commodity-in-2024-and-even-beat-bitcoin-whats-next-b8daf55d?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1NXJIyij0Y1l7eH-OK5KTUfWmdU7NsIk9NBLkn2JyTXHvxUHSlhXXut1U_aem_xg5B1pKTCJCG3PdyJ-1Y7g&sfnsn=wa) increasing by almost 200% in price in 2024, whereas bitcoin's increase in value in the same period was about 151%...by the way, the closing price of bitcoin in 2024 was about USD124,000/unit. The value of cocoa beans on the world market reached an all time high of USD12, 931/tonne on 18th December, 2024.

In October 2024, the highest recorded price for Robusta coffee futures on the global market was US$5,003 per tonne, observed on 15th October, 2024. By comparison, in October 2024, Arabica coffee prices reached a peak of approximately US$6.102 per kilogram. This translates to about US$6,102 per tonne. This surge was influenced by factors such as adverse weather conditions in major coffee-producing regions and supply chain disruptions. Coffee beans on the world market had its highest increase in price in 10 years according to the Global Coffee Report in its November 2024 edition https://www.gcrmag.com/whats-causing-coffee-market-volatility/).

My concern is that Trinidad and Tobago is not prepared, nor is it preparing to capitalise on the increased prices and high global demand for cocoa and coffee. My understanding is that our local production of cocoa is about an average of 150 tonnes /hectare, compared with about an average of 2,000 tonnes/ hectare in South America. Total production per year in T&T is perhaps less than 500 tonnes/year. There are many reasons for this poor state of affairs, all rather depressing, perhaps I will deal with these at another time.

My main concern is for local coffee production and the lack thereof. Below is a summary of a recent post on my other blog (https://cafevegatt.blogspot.com/) that outlines an opportunity for increasing local Robusta coffee production in T&T.

Trend in Robusta Coffee Prices Over the Past Decade

The price of Robusta coffee on the global market has experienced notable fluctuations over the past 10 years, driven by a combination of climatic, economic, and agricultural factors. Here’s a summary of the key trends:

1. Periods of Stability and Growth

Early 2010s to Mid-2010s: Robusta prices remained relatively stable, supported by consistent production from major producers like Vietnam and Indonesia.

2016–2017: Prices peaked due to lower global stock levels caused by adverse weather in Vietnam, the world’s largest Robusta producer. This period marked a temporary supply shock.

2. Decline and Recovery

2018–2020: Prices fell as global stocks recovered and production in key regions stabilized. This decline was further exacerbated by subdued demand during the COVID-19 pandemic's early phase.

Late 2020: As the world emerged from pandemic-induced lockdowns, Robusta prices began to rise again, driven by increasing demand for instant coffee, which primarily uses Robusta beans.

3. Recent Surge in Prices (2021–2024)

2021: Severe frosts in Brazil and erratic weather patterns in Vietnam led to reduced output, driving prices higher. Supply chain disruptions and rising shipping costs further exacerbated the price hikes.

2023–2024: Persistent weather issues, including drought in Vietnam and shifts in agricultural practices (such as the replacement of coffee trees with durian crops), have significantly reduced Robusta supply. Reports from Vietnam suggest domestic stocks are now completely depleted.

Key Drivers of the Trend

Weather Extremes: Unfavorable climatic conditions in major producing regions like Vietnam and Brazil have repeatedly disrupted production.

Land Use Changes: Vietnamese farmers are shifting away from Robusta coffee cultivation to more lucrative crops like durian, tightening supply further.

Rising Demand: The global demand for instant coffee and lower-cost alternatives to Arabica has sustained upward pressure on prices.

Logistical Challenges: Recent geopolitical disruptions, such as delays in the Suez Canal, have added to costs, indirectly impacting prices.

Outlook

With demand continuing to outpace supply and climate-related risks persisting, the upward trend in Robusta coffee prices is likely to continue in the near term. However, long-term stabilization will depend on improved farming practices, better supply chain management, and addressing climate challenges in key producing regions.

Historically T&T used to produce tonnes of coffee for export to the north. The abandonment and eradication of old coffee estates and the lack of interest in local coffee production by the local agencies entrusted with national agricultural development over the past 3 decades, are key obstacles to increasing coffee production. In comparison, there have been significant efforts in revitalising the cocoa industry over the same time period, by State agencies and others, but those efforts have not resulted in any significant improvement in cocoa production. So what is really the problem? Don't we have enough bright and motivated people in this country to get things right? Perhaps this needs another post as well.

Where should we go with agriculture?

 Morning muse

Possessed with concerns on food production and agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago in general, I I awoke just after 4:00 am today thinking of my next step. At this time of day, it is quiet, calm and free of the usual daily distractions. With a clarity of thought and insight, I decided to first do an update of my coffee blog to include an interesting component that I had missed earlier. Those of you with an interest in coffee may visit: www.cafevegatt.blogspot.com

My thoughts soon returned to: 'what should I do to try and influence at least one aspect of agricultural production or related research and development?' What crop or commodity should my energy be focused on? Needed root crops and vegetables seem to be widely produced locally, but the lack of coordinated production has often led to gluts of particular crop types, where the farmers allow the mature crop to rot in the field because the price in the market is less than the cost of harvest and post harvest handling. As we say locally..."every body and their dog producing it now".

Diversification

Over the past three decades there has been frequent 'talk' on diversification and post harvest processing with some serious attempts at putting such things in place...but little sustained effort on a sufficient scale seems to have survived today. I remember about 7 years ago, in a discussion with a newly appointed Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Agriculture at a field station in east Trinidad, I was outlining a proposal for making cassava flour and organising existing cassava farmers to be shareholders of the enterprise. Well, in a strong tone of voice that PS said: "I don't want to hear anything about cassava flour, I am tired of it...it is a good thing you are not in my office, else I would have had you put out!" Ahh, such enlightened leadership, regrettably, is not an uncommon thing today among all walks of life. By the way, wheat flour currently sells for about TT$7/kg while cassava flour (all imported) sells for about TT$85/kg. There is more to that story in terms of follow-up action to be part of a team that visited a South American country to see and get details on setting up a cassava flour facility in Trinidad. But the outcome is more embarrassing for the Ministry of Agriculture and I will spare them at this time.

New opportunity

What kind of crop grows easily here...like a weed even (not that kind of "weed", in case you are thinking of ganja!); that is not yet exploited to its full potential, but if it is properly processed and marketed, will add significant value to peoples lives? Why has Trinidad and Tobago not entered the 'Farmer-ceutical' markets...farmer produced botanicals for medicines and health supplements? Hmmm...is there such an opportunity here. One example of a local plant that grows like a weed in many places, comes easily to my mind...Ruellia tuberosa. Go check it up for yourself.

Several clinical studies have shown its efficacy in reducing blood sugar levels and helping in kidney repair...we don't need to reinvent the research, just keep track of the clinical trials. It is only a matter of time before the big pharmaceutical companies of the north seize the opportunity, patent a formulation and start selling it as a natural diabetic control for big money. By the way, natural products from plants cannot be patented...a formulation with a specific combination of biochemicals however, can be patented. Maybe I should start doing something about this.

The sun is beginning to creep into the sky and the birds have already completed their early morning serenade. So, it is time for me to head out into the bush to start my task for the day. Catch you all next time!

Back again...I hope.

 Time for renewal

So...I have been away from this blog for too long...just fedup with the agricultural situation here in T&T and the lack of a coherent, enlightened and progressive policy environment for agriculture in the country. Of course, the bright UWI graduates in leadership and supervisory positions at the Ministry of Agriculture seem unable to make a tangible and needed difference.

Anyway...a bright spot has emerged after issues of neglect and negligence were highlighted in a recent video...do take a look at the video...

Subsequent to the video getting the Minister's attention, a meeting with the Minister, senior Ministry of Agriculture staff and the farmers were held to decide on the way forward. This eventually led to the allocation of TT$9 million to deal with some of the issues identified in the video. Additionally, several farmers were able to get documentation from the Commissioner of State Land to regularise their land tenure in the area.

Perhaps, all those tonnes of technical studies on agriculture need to be turned into exciting videos and shared widely to stimulate needed action!

Food Security...old talk again?

Apparently, CARICOM through its Council for Trade & Economic Development (COTED) approved a Regional Food & Nutrition Security Policy in October 2010. This little known policy has the following four objectives:

  1. Food Availability - Promote the sustainable production, processing, preparation, commercialization and consumption of safe, affordable, nutritious, high quality Caribbean food commodities/products.
 2. Food Access - Ensure regular access of Caribbean households, especially the poor and vulnerable, to sufficient quantities of safe, affordable, quality food at all times, particularly in response to diverse socioeconomic and natural shocks.
 3. Food Utilization/Nutritional Adequacy - Improve the nutritional status of the Caribbean population, particularly with respect to NCDs including diabetes, hypertension, overweight and obesity.
 4. Stability of Food Supply - Improve the resilience of the region’s national communities and households to natural and socio-economic crises.

The full policy document is available at this link.

The key question is...how do we move from talk to serious, consistent action?

An Enabling Environment for Food Production

  

Premise

1.      Farmers can provide a continuous supply of good quality food.
2.      Farmers can receive a consistent profitable price for produce.

Enabling Factors

Land

1. no flooding or effective flood control;
2. good vehicular access road;
3. leases with reasonable terms provided (state lands).

Water

4. year round supply of water for farm operations so as to minimise dependence on rain-fed food production.

Note: Calculate crop water use based on acreage to be cultivated to ensure water for irrigation will be available (similar calculation for animal husbandry). Need to understand when in the life cycle of the various crops that there will be a greater demand for water.

Praedial Larceny

5. effective control
6. or initially at least, rapid response and thorough investigation.

Planting Material

7. availability of tried and tested varieties suited to local conditions which may vary based on season;
8. disease and pest free planting material in sufficient quantity when needed;
9. need to have farmers understand the particular characteristics of each variety to be used in the field.

Technical Advice

10. primarily pest and disease control with knowledge specific to crops planted or animals reared
11. ministry should re-engineer its training of farmers and provide timely on-farm assistance (same-day preferred);
12. pest and disease symptoms and control information for all of the commercially produced crops in T&T should additionally be in the form of an interactive CDROM for use by all farmers (assisted by their computer savvy children where needed);
13. ministry should also produce high quality large posters on disease and pest symptoms, including nutritional deficiencies, and control measures; to be promoted in farming communities…..many existing posters not appropriately designed for farmers;
14. awareness campaign on the negative impacts of pesticides on humans, using real life examples from T&T, and alternative pest control measures that work in T&T;
15. soil tests must be done for all areas before cultivation, with results delivered in a timely manner, including recommendations specific to the crop type…..it can take up to 6 months to get the results from the ministry’s lab at Centeno;
16. re-introduce the  use of “green-manure” (with mung bean, crotalaria, and other legumes) to re-juvenate soils and increase organic content;
17. ministry needs to produce large charts on appropriate, crop specific agrochemical use for farmers as well as guidance to reduce agrochemical use;
18. train farmers in proper method of harvest for specific crops as well as sanitizing so as to help maintain quality to the consumer;
19. ministry should design or source appropriate crop specific crates for field packing of produce;
20. train farmers in proper packing and stacking of produce to minimise damage;
21. ministry must have updated and realistic cost of production models, even for integrated farming systems;
22. assist farmers in finding ways to lower cost of production without the sacrifice of produce quality.

 What are your views on these points outlined above?