Nurul Afza, K.¹, Aziz, A.², Rawaida, R.³ Anuar, A.⁴ and Umikalsum B.⁵

Abstract
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is a tuber crop from the Convolvulaceae family. It is the one of the most significant food crops globally due to its value and economic benefits crop. Sweet potato is abundant in vitamins and minerals and contains a lot of starch, all of which are essential for food security and health. In Malaysia, sweet potato is classified as one of the staple foods and is commonly used in the food industry to develop downstream products, especially value-added products. Aside from that, sweet potato is a significant food crop in various places in Malaysia, providing the local population’s primary income source. Malaysian sweet potato breeding focuses on developing varieties that are high-yielding, disease-resistant, and environmentally friendly such as sustainable water management practices and lower environment impact to ensure the long-term viability of sweet potato cultivation. These efforts are crucial in meeting the growing demand for nutritious and sustainable food sources in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. This holistic approach to sweet potato breeding not only benefits the local farmers but also contributes to the overall food security and well-being of Malaysia as a whole. This paper reviews the cultivation status and genetically improved sweet potato varieties to increase crop yields and ensure that farmers can continue to produce this valuable food source for years to come. Overall, the findings suggest that Malaysia is on the right track towards securing its food supply through innovative and environmentally friendly practices in sweet potato cultivation.

Keywords: breeding, cultivation, mechanisation, production, sweet potato

Full text (1.31MB)