The camote or sweetpotato is more important than you think in ensuring food security. It is providing a decent source of income even for the lowly farmers who don’t have much capital to spend in their farming.

A few weeks back, we wrote about what’s new in sweetpotato after visiting the PhilRootcrops at the Visayas State University. There, the researchers are developing varieties for commercial production. Dr. Julie Tan, on the other hand, has been developing new products like wine and other camote-based products with added value.

In our more recent trip to the farms in Cebu, we have talked to farmers who are making a good livelihood in planting camote, even under not so ideal growing conditions. The soil in Cebu, many will tell you, is not really the best for growing agricultural crops. But with the technologies that have been imparted by the Farmer-Scientists Training Program (FSTP) started by Dr. Romulo G. Davide in 1994, the farmers trained in scientific farming can produce abundant harvests from their poor soil. They have learned to improve their growing conditions, largely through the application of processed organic fertilizer.

Edgardo Daogdaog of Brgy. Ubaob in Argao, is one fellow who grows a lot of camote in his farm. He grows the variety with red skin and yellow flesh which is high-yielding and is preferred by consumers. Rootcrops like camote can be a substitute for rice in the countryside. It is rich in carbohydrates and vitamins, too.

Although camote commands a price of only P10 to P20 ex-farm in Cebu, Daogdaog makes enough income to sustain his family. In fact, he was even able to buy a multicab truck with his income from camote. He now uses his vehicle to transport goods to and from Cebu City or some other places.

Enterprising investors are also coming up with new camote-based delicacies. Just like Jestrera’s of Camotes Island which displayed several camote-based delicacies during the Organic Forum held last August 21 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

Camote is also recommended for areas that are often devastated by typhoons. It is one of the crops used in the rehabilitation of Bicol after it was hit by strong typhoons and floods a few years back. By the way, Dr. Davide’s FSTP is now being adopted in Bicol. He was in Bicol recently to attend the launching of the project which will turn ordinary farmers into hands-on farm scientists.

Written by Zac Sarian