Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
North America, the most recent production fig-
ures imply that 2.14 acres would need to be
planted in Asia to realize the same output.
Improvements in cultivation practices and
seed stock are likely to make Asian production
more efficient in the future. For other developing
regions such as Africa, where relative produc-
tion inefficiencies are greater, improvements in
cultivation practices have the potential to in-
crease harvests, without proportional increases
in cultivated area, while enhancing food secur-
ity (CIP, 2012a).
In China, potatoes are grown as a staple, as
well as a cash crop. In the mountainous nor-
thern and south-west regions, production pro-
vides cash income. Potatoes are grown primarily
for household subsistence consumption in the
lower plains (FAO, 2008d; CIP, 2012b).
India, the second largest producer in 2011,
grew less than half as many potatoes as top-
ranked China, while still accounting for 11% of
total production and 42.3 Mt (
Table 3.1
). In a
little over a decade, Indian production has ex-
perienced dramatic growth, with production ex-
panding by more than 90% and
20
Mt between
2000 and 2011. However, for more than
20
years,
Indian production has been trending towards
expansion, as harvested hectares and yields
have both improved. Similar to many developing
countries, expanded potato consumption (and
hence production) in India is sustained by a
growing number of citizens living in urban
areas, where incomes are rising (CIP, 2012b).
Urban populations are demanding convenient
and ethnically diverse foods, as well as Western-
style dining experiences, many of which prom-
inently feature processed potato products (FAO,
2008b,d; CIP, 2012b). Consumption in rural
areas of India is lower, as potatoes are not con-
sidered to be a staple and are typically grown as
a cash crop (FAO, 2008d; CIP, 2012b).
While India and China have increased their
share of world production, Poland has experi-
enced notable production declines. Polish potato
output between 2000 and 2011declined nearly
58%, due to periods of low prices and damaging
floods (FAOSTAT, 2013). Collectively, the share
3.3
Production Rankings
and Totals
A comparison of production rankings from
2000 to 2011 provides a synopsis of major in-
dustry developments. Consistent with its status
as an emerged production leader, in 2011 top-
ranked China produced 88.4 million tonnes (Mt)
and approximately 24% of all potatoes grown in
the world (
Table 3.1
) (FAOSTAT, 2013).
In 2000, China grew 64.6 Mt of potatoes,
representing 20% of total world production
Chinese potato production is clear and provides
evidence of the important role potatoes play in
feeding China's growing population. The Inter-
national Potato Center (CIP) reports that Chinese
officials “(e)xpect fully 50% of the increased food
production it will need to meet demand in the next
20
years will come from potatoes” (CIP, 2012a).
Table 3.1.
Top potato producing countries, 2000 and 2011.
Rank in 2000
Country
2000
Country
2 011
Tonnes
Tonnes
1
China
64,596,119
China
88,350,220
2
Russian Federation
34,965,200
India
42,339,400
3
India
22,242,700
Russian Federation
32,681,500
4
USA
19,852,500
Ukraine
18,705,000
5
Poland
19,378,900
USA
19,361,500
6
Ukraine
17,343,500
Germany
11,800,000
7
Germany
11,916,800
Bangladesh
8,326,390
8
Belarus
7,767,600
Poland
8,196,700
9
Netherlands
7,115,000
France
8,016,230
10
UK
6,649,000
Netherlands
7,333,470
(From USDA Economic Research Service based on data of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization,
FAOSTAT; accessed
20
May 2013.)
