Ayosifam Brings Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato Vines to Kwara

In Short

Ayosifam Integrated Service Limited says it has transported orange-fleshed sweet potato vines from Oyo State to Kwara State. The company plans to multiply the vines, set up a demonstration farm, and begin distribution to smallholder farmers next quarter.

What Happened

In a May 30 blog post on AyosifamHub, Ayosifam said it has brought Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato, also called OFSP, vines to its operational base in Kwara State.

OFSP is described as “bio-fortified,” meaning the crop is bred to contain more nutrients than common varieties. In this case, the orange colour signals higher beta-carotene, a nutrient the body converts into vitamin A.

Ayosifam said moving the vines across state lines required “significant logistical investment” and careful handling because the planting material is delicate. The company also said it is now in a multiplication phase, which means growing more stems from a smaller starter stock so it can supply more farms.

Alongside distribution, Ayosifam plans a dedicated OFSP demonstration farm in Kwara. The farm is meant to preserve the vines and train local farmers on cultivation practices.

Why It Matters

For Kwara farmers, access to improved planting material can affect yields, crop quality, and income, especially when distribution is timed to planting seasons.

For public health, Ayosifam is positioning OFSP as a nutrition crop that can help reduce vitamin A deficiency, which is linked to poor eyesight and weaker immune systems. The company also highlighted that OFSP leaves can be eaten like spinach, and that the crop is a low-glycemic carbohydrate, meaning it may cause slower rises in blood sugar than refined starches.

If Ayosifam follows through on farmer requests next quarter, it could become a local supply point for OFSP vines in Kwara, reducing reliance on out-of-state sourcing and lowering future logistics costs.