This paper has examined the spatio-temporal changes in area, production and yield of sweet potato in India and its impact on economics of sweet potato cultivation in selected districts of Odisha. Compound annual growth rate, farm business analyses and Garrett’s ranking technique were used to assess the growth rate, cost and returns and constraints faced by the farmers. The cost and returns analysis indicated that the labour cost accounted for 42 per cent of the total cost of production and the sweet potato production is profitable. Yield had a greater impact on improving profitability. The constraints in the sweet potato cultivation were non-availability of quality planting materials, lack of storage, lack of appropriate price and high marketing cost among producers. These constraints may be addressed by the timely and adequate supply of vines, creating awareness about improving cultivation practices and reforming the market system of farm produce in Odisha which provides better avenues for increasing farmers’ income. Acknowledgement : The authors acknowledge the Director, CGIAR-IFPRI, South Asia Office, New Delhi. The research of primary survey undertaken for this project was made possible by generous support from Bill Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) under the TARINA project.