Top leading countries in potato harvest worldwide

The use of sweet potato tubers for food began as early as 4.5 thousand years ago. The Indians of South America not only domesticated this plant, but also worshiped it, considering it the source of life.

At the beginning of the XXI century, this vegetable is one of the four most popular crops, along with corn, wheat and rice. Read on how the geography of growing and consuming potatoes has changed over the centuries and who produces it the most.

Historical reference

For several hundred years, the potato has rapidly evolved from a "poisonous berry" to the most popular vegetable on the planet.... It was widely spread throughout the world thanks to France. In the second half of the 18th century, it was there that the first plantations appeared. And the reason for this was hunger because of the widespread poor harvest of bread.

Potato tubers appeared in Russia thanks to Peter I, who brought several bags of this outlandish product from Holland. But neither under Peter I, nor under Empress Catherine II, potatoes did not gain popularity among the population. Many, unknowingly, did not eat tubers, but poisonous berries.

Reference. In 1841, a decree "On the distribution and cultivation of potatoes" was issued in Russia, an educational program was carried out among citizens, and special areas for sowing were allocated for vegetable crops.

Despite all efforts, tubers in Russia were tasted only by the middle of the 19th century. And in the late 1920s, a collection of varieties was brought from South America to Russia, which helped to develop new ones that are resistant to diseases and the northern climate.

Top leaders in potato harvests per year

The undisputed leaders in the cultivation of this agricultural crop are China and India. Despite the fact that in these countries potatoes are not the main consumer product, since the end of the 20th century, the growth of its production has increased rapidly.

Russia closes the top three. Due to climatic conditions, potato yield is high practically throughout the country.

The places in the list of potato producers are distributed as follows:

1. China.
2. India.
3. Russia.
4. Ukraine.
5. USA.
6. Germany.
7. Bangladesh.
8. France.
9. Netherlands.
10. Poland.

In Russia, the Bryansk and Voronezh regions are leading in terms of potato cultivation. The republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan also belong to the "potato" regions of the country. Tula, Nizhny Novgorod and Krasnoyarsk regions have similar yield indicators. But in the Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous Districts, potatoes are practically not grown.

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The largest manufacturers in the world

China, as the leading country in potato harvest, receives about 90 million tons of tubers per year. The PRC government is striving to increase the yield of this crop, since a vegetable is more profitable for cultivation per hectare of land than others.

Reference. However, the yield of potatoes in China is low compared to European indicators. If in the PRC about 17 t / ha are harvested, then in France - 47 t / ha.

The effect is low soil fertility, inexperience of producers and a large proportion of viral seeds in the total mass of the product. But this situation does not prevent the republic from remaining the leader in this segment and producing every fifth tuber sold in the world.

India is the second largest global producer with a gross harvest of 45 million tonnes. The rapid industrialization of this country made it possible in a short time to take a leading position in the market. This is despite the fact that the vegetable is not a popular product in the diet of local residents, but a highly profitable product. The tubers are harvested by small, privately owned farms. The indicator per hectare of the harvested crop is also low - 16 t / ha.

In Russia, the area allotted for growing potatoes is almost 2 times less than in China, and is about 3 million hectares, and the gross harvest is estimated at 37 million tons. Potato cultivation in the Russian Federation is focused mainly on small farms.

Important! Large producers grow only 10% of the vegetable crop. Hence the low yield - only 14 t / ha.

Potato export leaders

In international trade, the world leader is Holland, which accounts for 18% of all exports. About 70% of Dutch exports are raw potatoes and products made from them. In addition, the country is the largest supplier of certified seed potatoes.

Of the three largest manufacturers, only China was in the top 10 exporters, which ranks 5th (6.1%). Russia and India practically do not export their products.

Potato consumption rates per person per year in different countries

Most of all they like potatoes in the Republic of Belarus. Here they consume about 180 kg of this root crop per year per capita, that is, every day, 0.5 kg. They also love potatoes in Kyrgyzstan. It takes about 140 kg per year to feed the average person.

Ukraine is in third place with a consumption level of 135 kg per year. The situation is approximately the same in Poland - 130 kg per year.

In Russia, the average annual consumption is practically the same - about 130 kg per year.

African Rwanda is also among the top consumers of potatoes: 125 kg per year on average are consumed by residents of this southern country. Next come Lithuania and Latvia. The crop consumption is 116 and 114 kg per year, respectively.

Despite the abundance and popularity of meat dishes, potatoes are not forgotten in Kazakhstan either - 103 kg of tubers per person per year. The United Kingdom closes the rating, where the love of potatoes is calculated at 102 kg per person per year.

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Countries where potatoes are not grown

Potato tubers are grown in all latitudes from the Arctic to South America. More than 100 countries have become producers and exporters of this popular vegetable. Each country, to one degree or another, produces agricultural crops for domestic consumption or for sale. And if climatic conditions are unfavorable for commercial production, then this vegetable is grown for their own needs in all countries of the world.

Interesting! In 1995, potatoes became the first vegetable to be grown in space.

Conclusion

According to international agro-unions, about 2/3 of all potatoes produced in one form or another are used for human consumption, the rest is used for animal feed, technical needs and seeds for sowing.

In developed countries, consumption of potatoes is gradually decreasing, while in developing countries it is constantly increasing. Inexpensive to produce and unpretentious to weather conditions, this vegetable gives good yields from small areas and provides food for the population.