The Jaman North District Director of the Department of Agriculture, Victor Yao-Dablu, is calling for a more radical approach towards the promotion of sweet potatoes to address nutrition and food security in the country.

He stated that although sweet potato is not on the list of food security crops in the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II), there is a need to heighten the education and promotion of the crop.

He observed that sweet potato is gaining roots in the agricultural sector due to the benefits in nutrition and income generation.

Speaking to JoyNews at Sampa in the Jaman North District of the Bono region, Mr Yao-Dablu urged stakeholders in agriculture and nutrition to raise a more sustainable and inclusive market-driven approach, especially for orange-fleshed sweet potato.

He said orange-fleshed sweet potato is a rich source of dietary vitamin A, a required nutrient that is often deficient in the diets of children under five years and lactating mothers.

"The nutritional value of an orange-fleshed sweet potato is not widely recognised, so it is not sought after by consumers and marketers. This has held back its potential to contribute to combating vitamin A deficiency, although only 100 grams of orange-fleshed sweet potato is the daily needed vitamin A content for children," Mr Yao-Dblu stated.

He explained sweet potato was neglected in sub-Saharan Africa but its importance over the years is growing with Nigeria among the largest producers.

The Jaman North Director of Agriculture further said sweet potato is increasingly recognised globally as healthy food and demand is growing for fresh, frozen and as an ingredient.

He added that "companies are investing, and there are large opportunities for scaling sweet potato in Ghana to benefit the rural and urban, poor and well-to-do."

Mr Yao-Dablu advised civil society organisations in health to take a keen interest in the potential of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes to contribute to the health and wealth of the country.

"Let us support the dissemination of orange-fleshed sweet potato and ensure demand to stimulate its production, ensuring profits for producers, and nutritional benefits for the large consumers, including women and children," he stressed.