Abstract

At community level, sweetpotato is often cultivated in marginal soils, with low agricultural inputs and is harvested when needed. Total β-carotene content of orange sweetpotato harvested four, five and six months after planting at optimal cultivation conditions and at a rural village was determined. Compared to those produced under optimal conditions, sweetpotato produced under rural village conditions were smaller, had higher β-carotene content and required a smaller serving size to provide 100% of the dietary vitamin A requirements. Harvesting at four, five and six months after planting at a rural village showed gradual increases in β-carotene content; no change was observed under optimal conditions. Differences in β-carotene content due to harvesting time and management level should be considered in food-based interventions addressing vitamin A deficiency.  

Key words: Provitamin A content, orange sweet potato, cultivation conditions.