Using Sawdust to Store Potatoes
8.70 - Using Sawdust to Store Potatoes
Nora Ziai, University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Ziai, N. (2026) Using Sawdust to Store Potatoes. In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. farmpedia.org
Benefits and challenges of growing potatoes on small holder farms
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are vital crops for smallholder farmers due to their adaptability to harsh conditions like high altitudes and extreme weather, their resilience resulting from genetic diversity, and their nutrient rich composition, with high carbohydrates, vitamins and calories (CGRFA, 2025). Potatoes are widely grown globally, with the majority (50.8%) of global production occurring in Asia and Africa (FAO, 2024a). These regions have approximately 450 million and 30 million smallholder farmers respectively, who produce over 80% of the agricultural outputs in their given areas (Macfarlane, 2022; Wiggins & Keats, 2013).
Unfortunately, smallholder farms in developing nations face high levels of post-harvest loss due to lack of resources; they are estimated to lose 24% of potato crops in India, 20% in Bangladesh, and 25% in Nepal per harvest (Awasthi et al., 2024). These losses can occur at various stages in the production process, but in Ethiopia-based research, it was found that storage losses and marketing losses (which include lack of customers, facilities, and poor handling) accounted for 62% of all potato losses (Urge et al., 2014).
Potatoes require specific conditions for long-term storage, as they rot quickly when too wet due to their water content, and attract pests when dry (Amudavi et al., 2018). Some sources state that potatoes can be kept up to 10 months under ideal storage conditions, which include being kept cool (around 4-8 degrees Celsius) with high relative humidity (around 95%) (Province of Manitoba, 2014; Pokorny, 2010). Further, potatoes must be stored without light, as it causes them to green and produce toxic compounds that can irritate the gastrointestinal tract (Brown, 2022). With poor storage conditions, farmers are forced to sell their produce right after harvesting even if prices are low, causing lower profit and other marketing losses referenced above (Amudavi et al., 2018). In order to keep these ideal storage conditions and ensure that potatoes are reaching the market effectively, large-scale farmers use ventilation systems or fans to preserve the good condition of their crops. However, many smallholder farmers do not have access to electricity and need inexpensive solutions (Amudavi et al., 2018; Province of Manitoba, 2014).
How to use sawdust as a low-cost way to store potatoes
First, any damaged or diseased potatoes must be removed from the harvest in order to prevent contamination of the healthy crop (Amudavi et al., 2018). The storage space being used must have natural airflow, which can be achieved with an open door on each side to allow wind to flow through, and should be dimly lit to prevent greening of potatoes (Amudavi et al., 2018). The floor of the storage room, which can either be wood or packed dirt, should then be covered in a layer of sawdust (Amudavi et al., 2018). Next, the sawdust should be moistened with water (Amudavi et al., 2018). The most effective way to do so is by using a knapsack sprayer that can quickly and easily spray the space, as shown in Figure 1 (Amudavi et al., 2018).
The sawdust is too moist if it makes your fingers wet when touched, but it is too dry if it cannot form clumps (Amudavi et al., 2018). Sawdust that is too wet will lead to rot, and if it is too dry, there is a risk of insects and pests (Amudavi et al., 2018). Figure 2 shows the ideal consistency.
Next, spread an even layer of potatoes on top of the sawdust, as demonstrated in Figure 3 (Amudavi et al., 2018). These layers of moist sawdust and potatoes can be repeated until there is a maximum of five layers (Amudavi et al., 2018). If there are more layers than that, it will be difficult to check the potatoes on the bottom, which need to be monitored weekly to ensure they are not spoiling (Amudavi et al., 2018). There is no need to add additional water throughout the storage process, as the moistened sawdust contains enough water to preserve the potatoes (Amudavi et al., 2018). This method can keep potatoes in good condition for around 6 months (Amudavi et al., 2018).
The sawdust can be re-used in order to be more economical, but it must be dried in the sun in order to kill any insects or pests, as demonstrated in Figure 4 (Amudavi et al., 2018). This method is effective because it meets the moisture and temperature needs of potatoes, which are stored best at approximately 12°C, with a relative humidity of above 95% (UCIPM, 2019).
This method has also been explored to store other tubers, like cassava, and was found to be successful (Booth, 2008). One key aspect to keep in mind, however, is that other tubers, such as sweet potato, can have varying ideal relative humidities, and thus the results from being stored in moist sawdust can vary (University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2025). Further research on the effectiveness of this method for different crops is required.
Benefits and economic feasibility
Using sawdust to store potatoes is a low-cost and accessible alternative to more intensive technologies, due to the minimal resources needed. Many nations in Africa, like Nigeria, have large timber industries with small-scale sawmills, ensuring sawdust is cheap and widely available (Onochie et al., 2018). Prices vary by region, but large bags of sawdust can be around $1.50-$2.50 USD (Bankole, 2025). Knapsack sprayers can range in price from $5 to $20 USD on international shopping websites like Alibaba. If the cost of knapsack sprayers makes this method inaccessible, farming groups in Africa, like the Ugu Farming Association, have an alternative method where they use cassava leaves, another crop commonly grown by smallholder farmers (Josiah, 2026). Farmers dip a bushel of leaves in water and shake them over the crops, as seen in Figure 5 (Josiah, 2026). This method can be done to moisten the sawdust as needed, removing the need for a knapsack sprayer and reducing the cost of this storage method. A longer shelf life means that farmers have the ability to sell when the prices are higher, leading to higher profit margins. In research conducted in Uganda, improved potato storage facilities led to an approximate increase of 70% in market prices after storage compared to market prices at harvest (Wauters, 2022). Farmers saw an average annual profit of $1,767 USD per improved storage facility, and improved storage facilities reduced losses by 10%, allowing farmers to generate more income from greater quantities of marketable potatoes (Wauters, 2022). Overall, using sawdust to store potatoes can increase profit for smallholder farmers, while being a low-cost and accessible intervention.
Critical Analysis
Using sawdust to prolong the shelf life of potatoes after harvest is a low-cost, accessible method for smallholder farmers. This intervention can cost up to $25 USD to implement in total, but using alternatives to a knapsack sprayer can reduce the price of the method to the cost of the sawdust itself, which is around $1-$2 USD. Further, the sawdust can be re-used, making this method sustainable and ensuring the cost of sawdust is an infrequent purchase. This results in a high cost to benefit ratio, with farmers seeing a 70% increase in profit after improving storage conditions (Wauters, 2022). The method does require increased time and labour, as the process of sorting and laying out the tubers can be tedious. Additionally, sawdust can be sold in sacks that weigh anywhere from 20 to 50 kg, which can make transportation difficult for smallholder farmers to rural regions; in areas that have smaller timber industries and no local sawmill, this could be a significant barrier. However, the process itself, beyond transportation of materials, is accessible to both female and male smallholder farmers, as there is no strenuous lifting or labour required. Sawdust is also accessible in regions with large numbers of smallholder farmers, like Asia, Africa and South America, as they contain over half of the world's available roundwood, and produce around 82% of the world's woodfuel (Pepke, 2021; FAO, 2024b). These large timber industries indicate large amounts of available sawdust. However, the scale of the timber industry can be problematic, with 4 million hectares of forests in Africa being cut down annually, which is double the speed of the world's average rate of deforestation (Igini, 2022). Deforestation can be detrimental to agriculture, as it can lead to soil erosion and degradation, reducing the productivity of land by stripping it of necessary nutrients (Chakravarty et al., 2012). While the timber industry can provide resources like sawdust for key agricultural interventions, it must be done in a sustainable manner.
There is a gap in literature regarding the frequency of bacteria and fungal growth in moist sawdust when used to conserve tuber crops, however some studies outline how moist sawdust can contribute to fungal growth due to the high moisture content, as moderate temperatures and high humidity common in Africa and Asia are ideal environments for fungi and bacteria to grow (Talley et al., 2002).
While using sawdust to store potatoes is a useful and accessible intervention, there are still barriers to implementing it, including high labour needed for sawdust transportation, risks of deforestation when relying on tree products, and potential for bacterial and fungal growth.
Helpful links to get started
Step-by-step instructional video on how to use sawdust to store potatoes: Link
Written fact sheet with instructions on how to use sawdust to store potatoes: Link
Knapsack sprayer online listing: Link
Instructional video on how to use leaves as an alternative to a knapsack sprayer: Link
Video outlining a similar method, using pine shavings in bins to store potatoes: Link
References
Amudavi, D., Cheburet, J., Lyaga, M., & Kimani, C. (2018). Using sawdust to store potatoes. Access Agriculture. Link
Awasthi, S., Lohani, S., Thapa Giri, A., & Bhusal, C. (2021). Assessment of The Post-Harvest Losses of Potato in Banepa Municipality of Kavrepalanchok District. Agribusiness Management in Developing Nations, 2(2), 65–72. Link
Bankole, I. (2025, October 27). High cost of cooking gas: Saw dust now the alternative. Vanguard News. Link
Booth, R. H. (1977). Storage of Fresh Cassava (Manihot esculenta). II. Simple Storage Techniques. Experimental Agriculture, 13(2), 119–128. Link
Brown, S. (2022). Green Potatoes Causes and Concerns, Cooperative Extension Service. University of Alaska Fairbanks. Link
Chakravarty, S., Ghosh, S. K., Suresh, C. P., Dey, A. N., & Shukla, G. (2012). Deforestation: Causes, Effects and Control Strategies. In Global Perspectives on Sustainable Forest Management (pp. 3–28). InTech. Link
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2024b). Forestry production and trade. FAOSTAT. Link
Igini, M. (2022, March 24). Deforestation in Africa. Earth.org – Past, Present, Future. Link
Josiah, J. (2026, January 31). Can't afford a knapsack but still need to spray? Facebook.com; UGU Farmers Association. Link
Macfarlane, A. (2022). Building Resilient, Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems in Asia. International Finance Corporation (IFC). Link
Onochie, U., Orhorhoro, E., & Oyiboruona, P. (2018). Economic Potential and Benefits of Sawdust in Nigeria. International Journal of Research Publications, 9(1), 134–141. Link
Pepke, E., Fernholz, K., Groot, H., Jacobs, M., Erickson, G., & Mcfarland, A. (2021). Global Forest Resources and Timber Trade. Dovetail Partners. Link
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Talley, S. M., Coley, P. D., & Kursar, T. A. (2002). The Effects of Weather on Fungal Abundance and Richness among 25 Communities in the Intermountain West. BMC Ecology, 2(1), 7. Link
UCIPM. (2019, August). Potato Storage and Pest Management Guidelines. University of California Integrated Pest Management. Link
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Urge, M., Negeri, M., Selvaraj, T., & Gebresenbet, G. (2014). Assessment of Post-harvest Losses of Ware Potatoes ( Solanum Tuberosum L.) in Chelia and Jeldu Districts of West Shewa, Ethiopia. ScieXplore: International Journal of Research in Science, 1(1), 01. Link
Wauters, P., Naziri, D., Turinawe, A., Akello, R., & Parker, M. L. (2022). Economic Analysis of Alternative Ware Potato Storage Technologies in Uganda. American Journal of Potato Research, 99(3), 217–228. Link
Wiggins, S., & Keats, S. (2013). Leaping & learning: Linking smallholder farmers to markets. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Rome. Link