potato plantation
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1. Background:
Potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial “Solanum tuberosum” of the Solanaceae family (also known as the nightshades). It originated from the area of present-day southern Peru and it’s now grown worldwide. Potatoes were first introduced outside the Andes region four centuries ago, and have become an integral part of much of the world 's cuisine.
It is the world 's fourth-largest food crop, following rice, wheat, and maize. Wild potato species occur throughout the Americas, from the United States to Uruguay.
The annual diet of an average global citizen in the first decade of the 21st century included about 33 kg of potato. It remains an essential crop in Europe, where per capita production is still the highest in the world, but the most rapid expansion over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern Asia. China is now the world 's largest potato-producing country, and nearly a third of the world 's potatoes are harvested in China and India
Potato which is believed to have been introduced in India in the 16th Century from there it may have reached some parts of Bhutan in 17th and 18th century. However modern way of potato production dates back to last 5 decades only. Since then Potato has become the most important cash crop for Bhutanese farmers. Now it’s grown in most area of Bhutan and the surplus potato is sold to India. Potato has the high market demand with the potential to increase rural income thereby reducing the poverty.
2. Varieties:
Potato is scientifically called as “Solanum tuberosum”. Other local names include “Kewa” in Dzongkha, “Zogtang” in Sharshpkha and “Alu” in Lotshamkha.
The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. The crop is capable of providing more nutritious food from less land in less time. Potato is short duration crop that can be planted and harvested as per the requirement of
1. Background:
Potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial “Solanum tuberosum” of the Solanaceae family (also known as the nightshades). It originated from the area of present-day southern Peru and it’s now grown worldwide. Potatoes were first introduced outside the Andes region four centuries ago, and have become an integral part of much of the world 's cuisine.
It is the world 's fourth-largest food crop, following rice, wheat, and maize. Wild potato species occur throughout the Americas, from the United States to Uruguay.
The annual diet of an average global citizen in the first decade of the 21st century included about 33 kg of potato. It remains an essential crop in Europe, where per capita production is still the highest in the world, but the most rapid expansion over the past few decades has occurred in southern and eastern Asia. China is now the world 's largest potato-producing country, and nearly a third of the world 's potatoes are harvested in China and India
Potato which is believed to have been introduced in India in the 16th Century from there it may have reached some parts of Bhutan in 17th and 18th century. However modern way of potato production dates back to last 5 decades only. Since then Potato has become the most important cash crop for Bhutanese farmers. Now it’s grown in most area of Bhutan and the surplus potato is sold to India. Potato has the high market demand with the potential to increase rural income thereby reducing the poverty.
2. Varieties:
Potato is scientifically called as “Solanum tuberosum”. Other local names include “Kewa” in Dzongkha, “Zogtang” in Sharshpkha and “Alu” in Lotshamkha.
The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. The crop is capable of providing more nutritious food from less land in less time. Potato is short duration crop that can be planted and harvested as per the requirement of
References: 1. W. Roder, K. Nidup and S. Wangdi. (2007). Marketing Bhutanese potato – Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities 2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Common Fund for Commodities. Strengthening potato value chains-Technical and Policy Options For Developing Countries,.2010, Rome 3. Surendra Raj Joshi and Bhim Raj Gurung. (2009). Potato in Bhutan - Value Chain Analysis. Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu. 4. Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Department of Agriculture Commercial Agriculture Development Project , Project Management Unit, Final Report Product Chain Study Potato , 2008, Biratnagar, Nepal 5. Chhime Tshering and Domang. (2004). The Seed Potato system in Bhutan and the way forward, Agricultural Marketing Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu, Bhutan.