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Potatoes - Did you know?
| Latin America | North America | Africa | Asia/Oceania | Europe | |
| Production in 2006 (in millions of tonnes) |
15,6 | 24,7 | 16,4 | 131,2 | 126,3 |
| Yield per hectare in 2006 (in tonnes) |
16,42 | 40,63 | 10,95 | 14,36 | 17,19 |
| Per capita consumption in 2005 (in kilos) |
23,65 | 57,94 | 14,18 | 25,83 | 96,15 |
- Potatoes are originally from South America and was grown there as long as 8000 years ago
- In the high plateau regions of Bolivia and Peru, certain native potato varieties may be preserved for up to 10 years after undergoing a special drying process making them into chuño
- In the United States, the world’s fourth-largest producer of potatoes, per capita consumption exceeds 54 kg of potatoes per year – steamed, baked, sautéed, fried, mashed, scalloped, stuffed, and
raw
- Canada specialises in potato processing to make frozen potato products, especially frozen French fries that are exported mainly to the United States
- In developing countries, only 1-3% of potatoes are processed, while in developed countries this figure can be as high as 60%
- Egypt is the leading potato producer on the African continent
- South Africa has an advanced seed potato industry and a thriving potato processing industry which produces mainly frozen French fries and crisps
- In Rwanda, potatoes are one of the staples of food security: consumption is very high (124 kg per capita), making it the country’s second-largest food crop and the second most important source of
calories after cassava
- China is the world’s leading potato producer (70.3 million tonnes in 2006, which is more than 20 percent of global output). Potatoes are both a food staple and a source of income, particularly
for farmers in mountainous areas with less-fertile soils
- Potatoes were introduced to India in the late 16th century. While it is not a food staple there, it is a cash crop that generates significant income. India is now the world’s third largest potato
producer (24 million tonnes in 2006)
- In Bangladesh potatoes are a winter crop. In 2006 the potato harvest was 4 million tonnes – 12 times the 1961 harvest – making Bangladesh the fifth-largest producer in Asia
- During most of the 20th century, Europe led the world in potato output. Asia has since assumed this role, but seven European countries are still among the leading global producers (Russia is
ranked second)
- Europe has the highest potato consumption in the world (nearly 100 kg per capita per year). Belarus takes the honours with 340 kg per capita – nearly one kilo per day
- Romania is one of the few European countries whose potato output is increasing: per-capita consumption has more than doubled since 1990, and Romanian researchers are studying the potential use of potatoes as a source of ethanol for fuel
Additional Information and Documents
-
UN - International Year of the Potato 2008
http://www.potato2008.org/ -
Recettes du monde entier
Pour l'année internationale de la pomme de terre 2008http://www.kartoffel.ch/