The Queen of Crops: How Sweet Potatoes Offer a Dual Opportunity in Health and Wealth

When you think of a "superfood," the humble sweet potato might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, according to Dr. Sushant Kumar Jata, a scientist at the Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), we should be looking at this crop in a new light. In a recent interview, he calls the sweet potato (Kandamula) the "Queen of Tuber Crops," and for good reason. It represents a massive, dual opportunity for both personal health and agricultural wealth.

Dr. Jata explains that sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse. Modern, biofortified varieties are packed with essentials. The purple "Bhu Krishna" variety, for example, is rich in anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant known to help fight cancer cells. Other varieties like "Bhu Sona" and "Gouri" are loaded with beta-carotene, which our bodies convert into Vitamin A, crucial for protecting eye health.

Perhaps most surprising is the myth-busting news for diabetics. Many people with high blood sugar avoid tubers, fearing they will spike their levels. Dr. Jata clarifies that sweet potato actually has a low glycemic index, making it a safe and healthy option for managing blood sugar, not an enemy.

The second half of the story is about economics. For farmers, the sweet potato is an incredibly profitable venture. Dr. Jata lays out the numbers: the benefit-cost ratio for sweet potato farming is 1:3.10. In simple terms, for every one rupee a farmer invests in cultivation, they can expect a return of three rupees and ten paise. This makes it one of the most lucrative and reliable crops available.

But the real, untapped potential lies beyond the farm. The biggest challenge for farmers is often finding a stable market. The solution? Value-added products. Dr. Jata’s "Rojagar" (Employment) message is that entrepreneurs can build thriving businesses by processing sweet potatoes. Instead of just selling the raw tuber, they can create modern, in-demand products like multi-colored chips (from the yellow, orange, and purple varieties), pasta, noodles, "kurkure," and even sweet potato powder or flour, which can be blended into rotis.

To make this vision a reality, the CTCRI’s Techno Incubation Centre offers incredible support. Dr. Jat reveals that entrepreneurs can receive training and get free access to high-cost machinery like extruders and pasta makers. They only need to cover the cost of electricity. This removes the single biggest barrier for small startups, giving them the tools to create high-quality products and build a successful business from this amazing "super crop."

With inputs from: Itishree Nayak, PrameyaNews7