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.