Kerinci Expedition: Sweet Potatoes or Ubi Pilo First-hand

The main source of income for many of the people in West Sumatra is agriculture.  The soil in the Kerinci area is fertile and over generations of cultivation, it has improved even more with the main source of fertilizer being of organic nature.  This rich, humus soil is perfect for the cultivation of ubi pilo or sweet potatoes (biological name: iponomea batatas) , a sweet, light creamy brown color-skinned tuber, which tastes good even when eaten raw. 

I have heard about the cultivation and production of these sweet potatoes but nothing beats experiencing it first-hand and actually seeing it with my own eyes.  Actually seeing what work is required to maintain it as well as the soil and environmental conditions gave me a clear understanding of what is required to produce quality tubers.  The main point that is of interest to me is that the growing of these sweet potatoes is done without any chemical fertilizers or pesticides - the way that I love to grow produce.  Another point of interest is the fact that the growers have extremely limited funds so they have to exercise creativity in ensuring that the plants grow to its maximum potential. 

The plant is cultivated from stem cuttings and planted with at least two points where the roots can sprout.  The main source of water is from the rain hence with the rich organic matter in the soil, the soil is able to retain sufficient water for growth in between rains without requiring other forms of watering.  The soil is so rich that it is almost black in color.  It is planted in beds of about 2-3 feet in width and is weeding is done manually.  As it is a crawler, the stems are folled back about once a month to keep the growth of the tubers in groups.

It takes about 5 months before it is ready for harvesting.  The plants are easily uprooted and then tubers dug out from the beds that it is child's play.  In Kerinci, the plots are worked by a family, with extended family helping out. Each plant can generate over 1 kg of tuber.

The tubers are packed into sacks weighing approximately 50kg and sold to brokers and transported to warehouses ready to sale and transport to markets as well as for onward processing.  These sweet potatoes are transformed into flour as well as used in the production of kerepek and soap.  The price at growers or the warehouse is 600-900 IDR which translates to about  RM 0.25-RM 0.4 per kg.
These sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary figer, beta carotene (a vitamin A equivalent nutrient), vitamin C, and vitamin B₆.  In Kerinci, these sweet potatoes are also eaten raw to reduce morning sickness or as a stomach-calming agent.
I obtained some cuttings from this visit and look forward to experimenting and applying the knowledge that I gained from this trip to growing quality ubi pilo.  The first thing that I need to do will be to improve the organic quantity in the soil, trying to achieve the quality of soil that I saw in the Kerinci plots.