INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE POTATO, 2008
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
1. Background
On October 18, 2007 the United Nations launched the International Year of the Potato 2008, adopted by FAO on December 22, 2005, following an initiative from Peru. This celebration and tribute to the potato will be held in over 150 countries around the world, restating the importance and contribution of this Andean tuber to employment generation among the poorest levels, poverty reduction, and food safety of all mankind.
The International Year of the Potato 2008 will strengthen the potato’s identity as a 100% Peruvian product—the greatest potato diversity can be found in Peru. It will also stress the fact that it originated in our Andes, and that became a food source for the entire world. The Multi-Sectorial National Commission for the Celebration of the International Year of the Potato 2008 in Peru is chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture, which is currently preparing a national and international activity agenda.
2. Concepts and Objectives
The International Year of Potato aims at raising the profile of this globally important food crop and commodity, giving emphasis to its biological and nutritional attributes, and thus promoting its production, processing, consumption, marketing and trade. Celebration of IYP 2008 is an opportunity to make a valid and effective contribution towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
2.1. Food Security - improving access to safe and nutritious food
Despite the great increase in global food production over the past half-century, many individuals and communities - mainly in rural areas - do not have physical or financial access to food year round. Undernourishment places vulnerable people in a downward spiral of bad health that frequently ends in death. By disrupting access to traditional sources of nutrition, HIV/AIDS and social and political conflicts create large groups of at-risk individuals. In addition, many developing countries face a "double burden" of malnutrition: the persistence of undernutrition, along with a rapid rise in overweight due to unhealthy diets associated with urbanization. Nutrient-rich potato (and sweet potato) can contribute to improved diets thus reducing mortality rates caused by malnutrition. As well as improving food security, such action will inevitably improve the health of target populations, especially women and children.
IYP can focus global attention on the need to reach the vulnerable with solutions that reduce constraints, create opportunities, improve productivity and reduce risks in the farming systems on which they depend.
2.2. Poverty alleviation
Many farm families are caught in a "poverty trap" in which limited livelihood options conspire to keep them poor. Those livelihoods often need either slight or radical reworking to provide consistent income that enables the family to move out of - and stay out of - poverty. Local markets once safe from outside competition now face increased penetration from a wide range of suppliers due to globalization and urbanization. Learning to innovate and engage with markets, and to become more competitive, are challenges for small scale farm families. In order to compete in regional and global markets, they need yield-improving and input-saving technologies to help close the persistent yield and cost gap.
IYP can focus global attention on the need to alleviate poverty by increasing incomes and linking farmers to markets.
2.3. Sustainable use of biodiversity
To overcome the multiple challenges of plant pests and diseases, low yields, natural resources degradation, drought and climate change, potato-based agricultural systems need a continual supply of new, improved varieties. That requires access to the genetic resources contained in the totality of potato biodiversity, which needs to be conserved, yet at the same time made available to researchers and breeders in a responsible and equitable way.
IYP can focus global attention on the range of actions needed to protect, conserve and utilize potato diversity.
2.4. Sustainable intensification of potato-based farming systems
Most of the world's farms are less than 2 ha in size. In sub-Saharan Africa and many parts of Asia, farms are still shrinking and may continue to do so for the next several generations. As farm size shrinks, many farm families are switching from grains and legumes to root and tuber crops to meet subsistence and income goals. Farms with declining area are being managed more and more intensively, leading to soil erosion and ecological imbalances that encourage pest and disease outbreaks.
The IYP can focus global attention on solutions for sustainable intensification of farming systems that will stop or reverse the loss of natural resources.
3. National IYP Commission
Supreme Resolution Nº 093–2006–PCM created the Multi-Sectorial National Commission in charge of the celebration of the International Year of the Potato 2008.
- Ministry of Agriculture, Chair
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Production
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Trade and Tourism
- CONCYTEC
- INIA
- CONAM
- INC
- National Library of Lima
- PromPerú
- CIP
- FAO
- IICA
- COSUDE
- Andean Community
- Wong Corporation
- Association of Healthy Restaurants of Lima
- CORPAPA
- ADERS
- Universidad Agraria La Molina
- Universidad Cayetano Heredia
- Universidad de San Martín de Porres
4. IYP Strategies
The fundamental goal of IYP is focusing the world’s attention on the role that the potato may play in poverty, food safety and malnutrition issues, and its contribution to overcome hunger around the world.
To achieve these goals, the IYP strategy will focus on the following four intermediate goals at the global, regional, national and community levels:
1. Develop a diversity of aid to improve the potato producers’ earnings and provide, at the same time, income for millions of potato farmers, processors, and traders, guaranteeing environmental stability (MDM7).
This will contribute to MDG 1, Objective 1 and MDG 7, Objective 9
2. Increase international potato cooperation by gathering public and private institutions involved in the potato chain of production and building associations between stakeholders.
This will contribute to MDG 8, Objective 12
3. Raise awareness on the importance of using and producing potato, by improving food safety and nutrition, and by increasing income, specially among poor farmers.
This will contribute to MDG 1, Objective 1, 2, MDG 4, Objective 5 and MDG 5, Objective 6.
4. Raise awareness on the diversity of the potato-based production systems and the related challenges and opportunities to further the sustainable development at the global, regional, national and community levels.
This will contribute to MDG 7, Objective 9.
5. Origins of the Potato
Peru is the main cradle of the potato, which history goes back 7,000 years to the age of the first farmer populations, before the pre-Inca cultures that began domesticating the tuber. At the same time, our country has the widest potato diversity: 91 species and 2,800 varieties from the existing 3,900 around the world. The first location where the potato began to be processed was the Peruvian highlands, Collao plateau, in Puno, 600 years ago. In the Pre-Hispanic world, the potato goes beyond economic and nutritional aspects to become an element that explains the Andean beliefs and culture, and the development of this society.
6. Importance of potato in the world
The potato is currently the fourth basic food of the world, after rice, wheat and maize. Potato is grown in 151 countries, totaling 18 million hectares and approximately 324 million tons. It is basic food in the world’s population diet and contributes to reducing hunger, achieving food safety and improving the income of poorest populations.
Potato spread over Europe after the discovery of America. It arrived to Spain between 1565 and 1570. After Europe, the potato spread to the rest of the world. It reached Asia, Taiwan around 1603, and then extended to China. In the 17th century, Portuguese sailors took it to India. In the 18th century, it arrived to Bhutan, Nepal, and the Philippines. Around, 1880 it reached East Africa and the Middle East in the second half of the 20th century. In the same century, it returns to America with the first English colonies in the United States.
The main potato-producing countries are: China, Russia, India, Ukraine and the United States, which together amount for 52.8% of the world’s production.
7. Economic importance of potato in Peru
In Peru, the importance of this crop is reflected in national statistics, as it is harvested in 19 departments, from sea level to 4,200 masl. Average crop surface is 260,000 hectares, which produce approximately 3 million tons, with a yield of 12.4 tons per hectare. Cultivated by almost 600,000 producers, it generates 110,000 permanent jobs, and 27 million daily jobs per farming period. It represents 8% of the agricultural GDP, the highest index among the national food crops. In 2006, its consumption per capita reached 88 kg annually, and the goal is to go beyond 90 kg per person in the next years. From total production, 94% is consumed fresh, and the rest is processed to produce dry potato, tunta (white chuño), chips, mashed potato, and starch.
8. Varieties of potato in Peru
Potato crop requires certain weather and temperature conditions. The maximum growth and development occurs at 10ºC and 15ºC. These temperatures are found in cold areas at 2,000 and 4,000 masl.
Potato varieties in Peru can be classified as native and modern. Native varieties are 5,000 years old and are grown in the highlands, in peasant communities located between 3,000 and 4,200 masl. The most important commercial native varieties include: Huagalina, Amarilla del Centro, Huayro, Huamantanga, Peruanita, Amarilla Tumbay, Wira Pashña, Ccompis, Yana Imilla and Sana Imilla.
Modern varieties are only 55 years old, and are also known as improved or white potatoes. These varieties were developed in Peru in 1952 and the first ones created were Renacimiento and Mantaro. To date, 56 modern varieties have been created, the most important being: Canchán INIA, Andina, Tomasa Condemayta, Única, Perricholi, Reiche, Yungay, Amarilis INIA, Liberteña and Serranita.
9. Potato-producer areas in Peru
Highlands crops amount for 95% of production, and coast crops for 5%. In Peru, potato is cultivated in the following 19 regions: Piura, Lambayeque, Amazonas, La Libertad, Cajamarca, Ancash, Huanuco, Pasco, Junin, Huancavelica, Ayacucho, Apurimac, Cuzco, Puno, Lima, Arequipa, Ica, Moquegua and Tacna. Regions were potato is not cultivated are five: Tumbes, San Martin, Loreto, Ucayali and Madre de Dios.
The regions of Huánuco, Puno, Junín, La Libertad and Cajamarca account for 60% of national production, but the regions of Ica, Lima and Arequipa have the highest yields. The regions of Puno, Pasco, Huancavelica and Huánuco assign over 40% of their sown surface to potato, reflecting the importance of this product in the region’s crops pattern and the producers’ agricultural income structure.
10. Importance of Peruvian potatoes
- From the total planted surface, an estimate of 65,000 ha (25%) are planted with native potatoes during each agricultural season.
- The agricultural season period starts with planting between August and November, and harvest between April and July.
- They are grown at altitudes between 3,500 and 4,200 masl.
- Potato crops generate 7 million temporary jobs.
- Average yield is 8 tons per hectare.
The main differences between improved or white potatoes and native potatoes are:
- Native potatoes are grown with rainwater,
- Planted in soils rested for over 5 years,
- They use farm manure, low use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers,
- Its cooking requires less water, fuel, and time, thus making them more economical,
- Contain anthocyanins that prevent cellular aging,
- They are used mashed in diets for old people and children.
- Native potatoes are a source of vitamin C and B1, potassium, high quality proteins and phenols; they are free of fat, almost free of soluble sugar, and are easily digested.
In the last four years, coordinated work between many international and national research, technological innovation and promotion institutions, and initiatives of the private sector, have permitted the development of added-value products based on native potatoes, such as selected and packed potatoes, instant mashed potatoes, colored chips, and beauty products. These products are being promoted in the US and Europe. In view of a greater demand, it is necessary to increase and organize the supply of native potatoes by using quality seeds, training, integrated pest management, organic production and post-harvest improvement.
Finally, potato is one of the fundamental and emblematic ingredients of Peru’s flagship: gastronomy. In recent years, Peruvian cuisine has become one of the top five of the world. Potato is used to prepare causa, lomo saltado, and potato in Huancaina sauce, among other internationally acclaimed dishes.
11. The plant
The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an herbaceous annual that grows up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall and produces a tuber - also called potato - so rich in starch that it ranks as the world's fourth most important food crop, after maize, wheat and rice. The potato belongs to the Solanaceae - or "nightshade"- family of flowering plants, and shares the genus Solanum with at least 1,000 other species, including tomato and eggplant. S. tuberosum is divided into two, only slightly different, subspecies: andigena, which is adapted to short day conditions and is mainly grown in the Andes, and tuberosum, the potato now cultivated around the world, which is believed to be descended from a small introduction to Europe of andigena potatoes that later adapted to longer day lengths [Design: © CIP]
12. The tuber
As the potato plant grows, its compound leaves manufacture starch that is transferred to the ends of its underground stems (or stolons). The stems thicken to form a few or as many as 20 tubers close to the soil surface. The number of tubers that actually reach maturity depends on available moisture and soil nutrients. Tubers may vary in shape and size, and normally weigh up to 300 g (10.5 oz) each.
At the end of the growing season, the plant's leaves and stems die down to the soil level and its new tubers detach from their stolons. The tubers then serve as a nutrient store that allows the plant to survive the cold and later regrow and reproduce. Each tuber has from two to as many as 10 buds (or "eyes"), arranged in a spiral pattern around its surface. The buds generate shoots that grow into new plants when conditions are again favourable.
13. Potato and the world