Sweet Potato Farming in India: Cultivation Process Guide
Earlier, sweet potatoes were not commonly used in India, but their usage is gradually increasing because of their nutritional value. It is generally cultivated as they are easy to grow, and the return is high. By following important steps, from soil preparation to harvesting, farmers can obtain a higher yield from sweet potato farming in India.
These contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are staple foods utilized in almost all parts of the globe. In India, sweet potatoes are grown in different states, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and others.
So, let’s understand the cultivation process of sweet potatoes in India in detail.
Cultivation process
The success of sweet potato farming starts with proper soil preparation. Sweet potatoes perform best in well-drained sandy loam soils with a pH ranging between 5.5 and 6.5.
Soil Preparation for Sweet Potato
The preparation of the soil plays an important role in sweet potato farming. Let’s learn more about it in detail :
Ploughing: Thoroughly prepare the land by ploughing the field using a tractor like the New Holland 5620. This powerful tractor has a great engine capacity and is suitable for all farming tasks. If you are planning to invest in a powerful tractor with good fuel capacity, then consider checking out the New Holland 5620 tractor. Must compare this tractor with others to choose the best according to your farming needs.
Levelling: Level the field to allow an equal distribution of water. This process is important to ensure no water logging in the field.
Addition of Organic Matter: To improve soil fertility and composition, farmyard manure or compost is the best organic matter to use.
Planting Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potato sowing is mostly done using vine cuttings. Follow these steps for planting: Follow these steps for planting:
Selection of Cuttings: Use healthy vine cutting of about 20-25 cm in length with 3-4 nodes in each cutting.
Planting Time: In India, sweet potatoes can be planted during the early months of the rainy season, which is from June to July.
Planting Method: Place the cuttings on ridges or mounds with a space of approximately 30 cm between each plant and space the rows 75-90 cm between each row. Putting pots away from each other allows adequate space for root development and provides convenience when it comes to plant maintenance.
Irrigation and Water Management
Sweet potato requires good irrigation; hence, the need to ensure the appropriate water management is important. Here’s how to manage irrigation:
Initial Watering: After planting the cuttings, farmers must water the plants soon after the sowing to help them grow.
Regular Irrigation: Water the field once every 7-10 days, depending on the soil quality and climate of the area. Sandy soils are likely to dry up more quickly and, hence, require more frequent watering.
Drip Irrigation: Drip irrigation is the best practice to ensure that the right amount of water goes to the plants without wasting water.
Weed Management
Sweet potatoes and weeds are rivals for nutrients and moisture in the soil. Let’s learn about it:
Manual Weeding: Manual weeding should be conducted when the crop is young or in the initial stages of growth. Farmers do it manually or by using instruments.
Mulching: To further reduce weed growth and to help maintain soil moisture, you can use organic mulch like straw or dried leaves.
Pest and Diseases Management
Sweet potatoes are highly prone to pests and diseases. Let’s learn more about it :
Sweet Potato Weevil: This is a major pest that could cause much loss. Proper control measures, like crop rotation, can help avoid this pest.
Root Rot and Wilt: These diseases are caused by fungal pathogens. To prevent these problems, it is advisable to pay attention to drainage and avoid cases where the area becomes flooded.
Aphids and Whiteflies: These pests can be vectors for other diseases as well. In cases of infection, insecticidal soaps or neem oil are advisable.
Harvesting of Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are harvested after 3-4 months of planting the crop.
Checking Maturity: It is best harvested when the leaves begin to turn yellowish, and the tuber skin becomes hard. Check a few tubers to determine their degree of ripeness.
Harvesting Method: Remember, cut your potatoes with a spade or a fork gently without causing any harm to the tubers. However, one can also use a tractor like the Swaraj 742 xT, which has implements for digging and harvesting to ease the task.
Curing: After harvest, tubers are put at 25-30°C and a relative humidity of 85-90% for 5-10 days.
Post-Harvest Handling and Storage
Proper post-harvest handling is important to maintain the quality of sweet potatoes. Here are some tips:
Sorting and Grading: Separate the harvested tubers based on size and quality. Discard any damaged or diseased tubers.
Storage: Store the cured tubers in a cool, dry place with good ventilation. The ideal storage temperature is 12-15°C with 85-90% humidity. Farmers store sweet potatoes in cold storage for months.
Marketing and Profitability
Sweet potatoes enjoy good market demand in India for both fresh consumption and processing. Here’s how to maximize your profitability:
Market Research: Understand the market demand and price trends in your region. Sell your produce when prices are high to maximize profits.
Value Addition: Sweet potatoes can also be processed into value-added products such as chips, flour, or starch. The products made of value addition are always available at a premium price in the Indian market.
Direct Marketing: Farmers can directly reach consumers through marketing channels like farmer’s markets, local grocery stores, or online platforms to get better prices for their produce.
Conclusion
The market for sweet potatoes in India has good prospects for farmers to have other sources of income in the future. Therefore, adequate planning and preparation of the land, with concern, will enable a good yield for the market demand for sweet potatoes for Indian farmers.