Potatoes… - Bayer CropScience

Bayer CropScience
supports China’s
potato development
China is the world’s largest potato-growing
country: with 5 million hectares under
cultivation in 2007, it accounted for
25% of the world’s total production.
Eighty-five percent of China’s growing
area is distributed in the North (single
cropping) and South-West (double
cropping) of the country. The average yield
per hectare is about 16 tonnes. Currently,
most of China’s potato production is used
fresh for eating (60%); processing to potato
chips, French fries and fast-frozen food
only accounts for about 10%.
The development of China’s potato
market has been hampered by a lack of
access to various technologies: only 25%
of planted seed potatoes are certified
virus-free, and only 1% of farmers use
machinery in potato production. In addition,
most farmers lack knowledge of pest
and disease control methodology.
But things are changing. As the 5th
largest crop in China, the potato is gaining
in importance. The yield per unit area of
rice, corn and wheat is not expected to increase
due to technology limitations. The
potato can yield three to four times as much
as these crops per hectare – and it is also
more drought-resistant than rice and wheat.
As 60% of China’s arable land is dry, potato
growing is regarded by the government as
one of the best ways of meeting the
increasing food demand of 1.3 billion
people, as well as a good opportunity for
farmers to improve their income. With
strong support from the government, the
potato-planting area is expected to increase
further to 6.6 million hectares; the use of
Trucks loaded with
potatoes at a
purchasing station in
Xiji county, North-West
China.
6 COURIER 1/08