Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer
SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:
The Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) in St. Catherine is taking steps to improve the sweet potato yields in the Tetford area of the parish in an effort to increase sweet potato production.
Extension officer of RADA's Old Harbour office, Alicia Anderson said, there were more than five hectares of the 'yellow belly' variety of sweet potato being grown in the area. She told Farmers Weekly that this particular variety of sweet potato, also called the 'quarter million', was quite productive as each hectare had the potential to produce up to 20 tonnes, if farmers adhered to the correct practices.
She said the 'yellow belly' sweet potato was fetching $30 per pound in the market and should encourage farmers to plant more.
NEW EXPORT MARKET
Ms. Anderson said RADA recently found a new export market and would be selecting specific farmers to produce for this market.
According to Latoya Williams, social service and home economics officer at RADA, several high quality products are have been made from the sweet potato. Some of these products include: sweet potato porridge mix and the sweet potato pudding mix which is an all-time favourite. She also showed Farmers Weekly a sweet potato cheese cake and sweet potato punch that she made from the staple. RADA believes the production of sweet potato has great potential.
