This was discussed at the World Congress on Potato, which took place in the Peruvian Cuzco.
One of the most anticipated speakers at the World Potato Congress in Cuzco was Barbara Wells, CEO of the International Potato Center (CIP), which outlined global trends in potato production.
In her speech, Barbara Wells said that developing countries have seen significant growth in potato production. She stated that potatoes are currently a truly global product represented in 163 countries, with global production reaching 400 million tons per year in the near future.
“The last two decades, potato production has only increased, growing at the expense of Asia. The continent now accounts for half of the world's potato production, thanks largely to China and India, which have doubled production in recent years, ”she said.
At the same time, growing potatoes in developing countries can be considered more complicated than in the United States or Europe, as “a common producer in these countries has limited access to modern technologies, is little familiar with the appropriate use of agrochemicals, which ultimately leads to huge crop losses, ”Wells said, referring to climate change issues that also affect potato production.
For example, in Africa growers typically get 10 or 20 tons of potatoes per hectare, while in the United States and Europe growers get more than 40 tons from the same amount of land. A scientific approach to growing potatoes in certain regions with low potato yields can help farmers realize the potential of the crop, the expert said.
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