potato

" Based on the statistics of FAO, the potato had been planted in 144 countries in 2000, of them, 40 in Asia, 40 in Europe, 36 in Africa, 14 in North America, 10 in South America and 4 in Oceania. Among all the food crops in the world, the potato product ranks the fourth crop, behind corn, rice and wheat. The global potato planting area had maintained in 19 million hectares in the past 10 years. China is the largest potato producer in the world and the potato planting area and production had been increased rapidly in the past 20 years. The planting area, the total production and the yield in China in 2001 went to 4.72 million hectares, 64 million tons, and 14 ton/ha. The planting area and production of potato in China had been increasing in the past 20 years. The planting area was increased from 2,454,000 ha in 1982 to 4,719,000 ha in 2001 and the production was increased from 23.83 million tons in 1982 to 64.56 million tons in 2001."