Development status and countermeasures of sweet potato industry in Guangxi

【Objective】In view of the current development situation of Guangxi sweet potato industry, this paper analyzed the problems existing in its development process, and put forward countermeasures and suggestions, so as to provide theoretical basis and technical support for the efficient and high-quality development of sweet potato industry.【Method】Through field investigation on the development status of sweet potato industry in 14 prefecture-level cities in Guangxi, clarified their regional distribution, planting varieties, planting area and yield, processing scale, product brand, main sales markets and channels, elaborated the development status of sweet potato industry in Guangxi, analyzed the current problems, and put forward targeted suggestions.【Result】Guangxi is the largest main producing area of sweet potato in southern China. In 2019, the planting area of sweet potato was 204000 ha, and the total yield was 2423000 t. Sweet potatoes were grown all over Guangxi, with many and mixed varieties. The planting seasons were mainly summer and autumn, cutting from June to August and harvesting from October to December. Sweet potato could be planted throughout the year in southeastern Guangxi to meet the annual fresh potato supply. About 35% of sweet potatoes in Guangxi were used for processing. The processed products were mainly sweet potato vermicelli and dried potato, as well as a small amount of snack foods such as potato chips and pies, more than 60% for fresh food. The main way to sell sweet potatoes was to purchase merchants, and E-commerce sales and sell their own products. Guangxi had unique advantages in the development of sweet potato industry in terms of location, ecological and climatic environment, industrial base and planting efficiency. Sweet potato is the third largest food crop in Guangxi, and its development has been relatively stable from 2010 to 2019 based on the statistics of planting area and total yield. There were problems such as disordered planting varieties, lack of healthy seedlings, backward planting technology, low mechanization degree, lack of deep processing and brand products, and incomplete industrial chain.【Suggestion】Strengthen the breeding and promotion of new functional sweet potato varieties, regulate the production of non-toxic and healthy seeds and seedlings, establish a standardized planting technology system, establish the sweet potato industry alliance, improve the sweet potato industry chain, build brand effect, improve the advantageous regional layout of sweet potato, and extend the sweet potato industry chain, so as to promote the healthy and rapid development of sweet potato industry in Guangxi.