Biofortification for Reducing Hidden Hunger: A Value Chain Analysis of Sweet Potato in Odisha, India

Nearly two billion people in the world suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, a condition commonly known as hidden hunger. Growing and eating biofortified crops can be an effective strategy for reducing hidden hunger. Orange-fleshed sweet potato or OFSP, released in 2007, was the one of the earliest successfully released biofortified crop. It has helped reduce vitamin A deficiency in countries of Africa. Odisha is the largest producer of sweet potato in India. We studied the value chain of sweet potato in Odisha—including production, marketing and wholesale and retail trade—to assess if production and consumption of OFSP can be encouraged in the state to reduce vitamin-A deficiency among affected populations. We surveyed 310 farmers and consumers, 25 aggregators, 12 wholesalers and 25 aggregators from 4 districts of Odisha and conducted semi-structured interviews with breeders and government extension officials. Unlike Africa, sweet potato is not a staple in Odisha even among households that grow it. It is consumed in small quantities, mainly on auspicious occasions. Farmers and consumers in Odisha are not aware of nutritional properties of OFSP. It is not in greater demand than the regular sweet potato and it does not fetch a higher price in the market. Therefore, only 11% farmers grow it. Generating demand for OFSP through an awareness campaign is essential for it to be effective against vitamin-A deficiency..