TT No. 454: Sweet Potato Production in Oil Palm Plantations
Many short-term crops have been found to be suitable for intercropping in double-row avenue oil palm including sweet potato. Sweet potato is an important food crop belonging to the Family Convolvulaceae. It has high nutritive value because the storage roots are a good source of carbohydrates, sugars, calcium, iron and other minerals and vitamins, particularly A and C. A yellow or orange root flesh colour is directly related to the presence of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. The growth and root yield of the sweet potato inntercorp is comparable to those from a monocrop. Two or three crops can be planted in a year, depending on the climate and conditions of the oil palm area. Local demand for sweet potato roots from selected cultivars can fetch a good price. Sale of roots from this additional income to the oil palm grower. Therefore, production of sweet potato in oil palm is a feasible venture and is recommended for adoption by oil palm growers.
Main Research: Raja Zulkifli Raja Omar