The Economic Implication of Cylas Spp. and Rot Organisms Infestations on the Marketability of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in Three Markets in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

This survey is carried out in three markets (Monday, Gamboru, Custom) in Maiduguri Metropolis of Borno State, Nigeria. The aim is to determine the economic implication of Cylas spp. infestation on the quality and marketability of Ipomoea batatas. Ten wholesale stores and ten retail sellers were randomly selected for the survey in each market. The means for each of the ten marketers were determined after one month of the survey. The results show that Ipomoea batatas infestation began from the field since the tubers selected were removed
from the sacks in the full view of the authors. The infestation holes of Cylas spp. when observed show that the holes were not fresh but mostly sealed with long dead tissues, which were smelly and cranky. Each infested tuber observed had no
more than two Cylas spp. Each of the infested tubers was rendered useless due to other secondary infestations from rot micro-organism (fungus, bacteria), which make the tubers to become soft, rotten and smelly. The infections rendered the
infested tubers unmarketable due to poor tuber quality. This cause losses to the sellers and buyers as well since facial observations could not detect the bad tubers before buying. There is the need to establish food processing industry to
utilise the excess tubers and this could go a long way in encouraging the farmers to produce more and both whole-sellers and retailers will also benefit. The survey have highlighted and brought to open the problems faced by farmers from harvesting high quality tubers and traders from selling high quality tubers of the Ipomoea batatas.