Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries –Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) are an important crop commodity that can be processed into diverse types of dishes that are delicious to humans’ needs. Historically, the potato plant originated in the Americas and is thought to have been first discovered in Peru. Taxonomically, potatoes can be classified as follows: Kingdom: Plantae Division: Spermatophyta Class: Dicotyledonae Order: Tubiflorae Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: Solanum tuberosum L.
According to data from Food Central Data, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the nutritional content of potato tubers includes: Water 78.6 grams; Energy 79 kcal ; Energy 332 kJ ; Protein 2.14 g ; Total lipid (fat) 0.08 g ; Ash 1.13 g ; Carbohydrate, by difference 18.1 g ; Fiber, total dietary 1.3 g ; Sugars, total including NLEA 0.62 g ; Sucrose 0.13 g ; Glucose 0.25 g ; Fructose 0.23 g ; Starch 15.9 g ; Calcium, Ca 13 mg ; Iron, Fe 0.86 mg ; Magnesium, Mg 23 mg ; Phosphorus, P 55 mg ; Potassium, K 417 mg ; Sodium, Na 5 mg ; Zinc, Zn 0.29 mg ; Copper, Cu 0.103 mg ; Manganese, Mn 0.157 mg ; Selenium, Se 0.4 µg ; Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid 5.7 mg ; Thiamine 0.082 mg ; Riboflavin 0.033 mg ; Niacin 1.04 mg ; Pantothenic acid 0,301 mg ; Vitamin B-6 0.345 mg ; Folate, total 14 µg ;
World’s Production and Harvested Areas of Potatoes From 1970 to 2021
| Years | Harvested Areas | Production of Potatoes |
|---|---|---|
| (hectares) | (Tons) | |
| 1970 | 20,773,099 | 298,048,017 |
| 1971 | 20,377,730 | 279,490,572 |
| 1972 | 20,294,269 | 272,144,812 |
| 1973 | 20,091,178 | 307,160,130 |
| 1974 | 20,157,078 | 284,781,339 |
| 1975 | 19,847,391 | 270,384,075 |
| 1976 | 19,056,813 | 272,745,276 |
| 1977 | 19,081,224 | 279,667,694 |
| 1978 | 19,152,390 | 291,161,652 |
| 1979 | 19,226,425 | 297,921,605 |
| 1980 | 18,787,687 | 240,495,788 |
| 1981 | 18,788,706 | 267,781,520 |
| 1982 | 18,743,840 | 265,142,602 |
| 1983 | 18,676,610 | 264,471,009 |
| 1984 | 18,672,122 | 290,945,972 |
| 1985 | 18,427,594 | 281,603,760 |
| 1986 | 18,123,493 | 286,610,518 |
| 1987 | 17,974,956 | 279,415,351 |
| 1988 | 18,105,332 | 268,603,004 |
| 1989 | 18,014,210 | 276,583,863 |
| 1990 | 17,656,477 | 266,825,273 |
| 1991 | 17,818,561 | 256,993,288 |
| 1992 | 18,616,624 | 278,979,592 |
| 1993 | 18,561,212 | 304,618,981 |
| 1994 | 18,188,523 | 270,202,917 |
| 1995 | 18,617,753 | 285,332,183 |
| 1996 | 18,812,570 | 310,492,904 |
| 1997 | 18,798,686 | 301,078,089 |
| 1998 | 18,768,037 | 297,833,666 |
| 1999 | 19,589,031 | 296,072,511 |
| 2000 | 19,895,378 | 322,768,879 |
| 2001 | 19,437,764 | 305,484,377 |
| 2002 | 18,816,702 | 309,789,866 |
| 2003 | 18,701,649 | 307,575,064 |
| 2004 | 18,740,927 | 328,144,851 |
| 2005 | 18,755,209 | 317,664,052 |
| 2006 | 17,802,756 | 307,571,761 |
| 2007 | 18,010,769 | 313,197,272 |
| 2008 | 18,165,898 | 327,218,340 |
| 2009 | 18,581,430 | 330,778,994 |
| 2010 | 18,173,550 | 328,663,252 |
| 2011 | 18,699,490 | 368,983,872 |
| 2012 | 18,698,238 | 362,049,538 |
| 2013 | 18,507,224 | 366,054,695 |
| 2014 | 18,052,211 | 369,789,697 |
| 2015 | 18,061,777 | 366,068,421 |
| 2016 | 17,413,386 | 354,833,711 |
| 2017 | 17,435,622 | 370,114,760 |
| 2018 | 17,191,158 | 365,703,133 |
| 2019 | 16,481,645 | 368,832,967 |
| 2020 | 16,887,038 | 371,143,173 |
| 2021 | 18,132,694 | 376,119,974 |
| Source :FAOSTAT, 2022 | ||
Of course, as one of the favorite plants in the world, this plant has been widely cultivated in various countries in the world and is evenly distributed in all continents in the world. In 2021, based on data from FAO, worldwide potato production reached 376 million tons with a total planted area of seventeen million hectares spread throughout the world.
Based on data at the continental level, the Asian continent is still the main canter for potato cultivation with production reaching 189 million tons (or contributing about 51% of world potato production), followed by Europe with the production of 107 million tons (contributing 29% of potato production). world), the Americas with production reaching forty-five million tons (contributing 12%), and Africa with twenty-six million tons (or contributing 7.2%).
When viewed from the country level, there are several countries in the world as the main potato producers. These countries certainly have a large production base due to high domestic demand. Here are the Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries. This data was obtained from the FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT) in 2021.
The Rank of Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
| Rank | Countries | Production of Potatoes | Production of Potatoes | Production of Potatoes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in 2019 (Tons) | in 2020 (Tons) | in 2021 (Tons) | ||
| 1 | China, mainland | 89,500,000 | 92,800,000 | 94,300,000 |
| 2 | India | 50,190,000 | 48,562,000 | 54,230,000 |
| 3 | Ukraine | 20,269,190 | 20,837,990 | 21,356,320 |
| 4 | United States of America | 19,251,320 | 19,051,790 | 18,582,370 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 22,074,874 | 19,607,361 | 18,295,535 |
| 6 | Germany | 10,602,200 | 11,715,100 | 11,312,100 |
| 7 | Bangladesh | 9,655,082 | 9,606,000 | 9,887,242 |
| 8 | France | 8,560,410 | 8,691,900 | 8,987,220 |
| 9 | Poland | 6,481,620 | 7,859,510 | 7,081,460 |
| 10 | Egypt | 5,200,563 | 6,786,340 | 6,902,817 |
| 11 | Netherlands | 6,961,230 | 7,020,060 | 6,675,590 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2020,2021, and 2022 | ||||
A Brief Description of Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
1. China, mainland
China is the biggest of all countries with the production of 94.3 million tons in 2021. In 2006, the planted area of potatoes in China was around 5.34 million hectares. Geographically, there are some regions of potatoes area in China. These regions are Guizhou, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, Chongqing, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, and Shaanxi. Genetically, Some of the Potato varieties planted in China are Qingshu 168, Xiazhai 65, and Cooperation 88.
2. India
India was the second biggest country of potato production in the world. In 2021, based on the FAOSTAT data, the production of India’s Potato reached 54.3 million tons. In this Mahatma Gandhi’s country, there are some States in India with the biggest productions of Potato. These states are Uttar Pradesh with production reached fifteen million tons, West Bengal 13 million tons, Bihar 8.1 million tons, Gujarat 3.7 million tons, Madhya Pradesh 3.2 million tons, Punjab 2.7 million tons, and Assam 1.1 million tons. Genetically, there are some varieties of potatoes in India. these are Kufri Sindhuri, Kufri Chandramukhi, Kufri Jyoti, KufriBadshah, Kufri Anand and some variety in India.
3. Ukraine
Ukraine was the Third biggest one. Based on the FAO data in 2021, the production of Ukraine Potato reached 21.3 million tons. Geographically, some regions of Potato production in Ukraine are Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Lviv, and Kyiv. Genetically, some promising cultivars of potato in Ukraine are Knyahynya, Myroslava, Sluch, Solokha, Khortytsya, and Fotiniya.
4. United States of America
The United States of America was the Fourth biggest one. Based on the FAO data in 2021, the production of Ukraine Potato reached 18.5 million tons. Geographically, based on the Statista in 2021, there are some regions of Potato Production in the United States of America (USA), these states are Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, Oregon, Colorado, North Dakota, Michigan, and Minnesota. Genetically, these are some varieties of potatoes that are usually planted in the USA. these varieties are Russet Burbank, Russet Norkotah, Ranger Russet, Umatilla Russet, Frito-Lay varieties, and Norland.
5. Russian Federation
Russia was the fifth-biggest country of potato production in the world. In 2021, based on the FAOSTAT data, the production of India’s Potato reached 18.2 million tons. The location of potato production in Russia spread out throughout Russia but major potato-producing provinces in Russia are in the Central and Volga Valley Federal District (FD).
Based on the administrative area of the District, some areas of the main Production of Potato in Rusia based on Vasileva (2013) in the USDA report are Moscow Oblast with 330,000 metric tons (MT) in the Central Federal District (FD); Bryansk Oblast with 269,000 metric tons (MT) in the Central Federal District (FD); Nizhniy Novgorod oblast with 223,000 metric tons (MT) in the Volga Valley Federal District (FD); Tula Oblast with 189,000 MT in the Central Federal District (FD); Tumen Oblast (167,000 MT) in Siberian Federal District (FD); the Chuvashia Republic with 154,000 metric tons (MT) in the Volga Valley FD; Sverdlovsk with 141,000 metric tons (MT) in the Ural FD; Samara Oblast (136,000 MT) in the Volga Valley FD. Genetically, some potato cultivars were planted in the Russian area Gala, Vega, Colomba, Red Scarlett, Queen Anne, Madeira, and Baltic Rose.
6. Germany
Germany was the next one from European Continent. In 2021, the production of Potato in Germany reaches 11.3 million tons. Geographically, there are some areas of potato cultivation in Germany. Lower Saxony is the largest potato area in Germany, followed by Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. Three-quarters of the German production comes from these three federal states. Culturally, Germany’s many varieties of potatoes are divided into three categories: festkochend (waxy), vorwiegend festkochend (medium waxy), and mehlig (mealy). German stores label potatoes based on these three categories with a colored coded strip: green for festkochend, red for vorwiegend festkochend and blue for mehlig.
7. Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the next one from Asia Continent. In 2021, the production of Potato in Bangladesh reaches 9.8 million tons. Commonly, Potato is the third most important crop in Bangladesh and is planted massively in all provinces in Bangladesh. Genetically, some local cultivars planted in Bangladesh are Sheel Bilatee, Lal Sheel, Lal Pakri, Cardinal, Diament, Kufri Shindhury, and Du Hajari.
8. France
France was the eighth biggest in the world. According to the FAO database, in 2021, the production of potatoes in France reaches 8.9 million tons. In France, the production of Potato has concentrated the north of the Loire River, in the Hauts-de-France region, which accounts for two-thirds of the national production. Genetically, some potato that are famous in France are French Fingerling, Pomme de terre de Noirmoutier, Le Bonnotte, Béa du Roussillon, Pommes de Terre de Merville, and Pomme de Terre de I’Île de Ré.
9. Poland
Poland was the 9th biggest in the world. According to the FAO database, in 2021, the production of potatoes in Poland reaches 7 million tons. Statistically, in 2018, the area of Potato Farming in Poland was 316 thousand hectares (ha). In this Poland, there are some main seed areas of Potato, but the greatest concentration of seed production was from the northern and southern parts of Pomorskie Province, where many seed potatoes were cultivated, and in the north of the Zachodniopomorskie Province, around the towns of Koszalin and Kołobrzeg.
10. Egypt
Egypt is the 9th biggest producer of Potatoes in 2021. Statistically, based on the FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Potatoes from Egypt reached 6.9 million tons. Geographically, in Egypt, there are some basis regions chicken slaughtered area that located in the Nile Delta and Middle Egypt.
The governorates of Behaira, Gharbia, Menofia, and Sharkia are the leading producers of potato in the Nile Delta. Furthermore, the Production in Middle Egypt located in Giza and Minia.
Genetically, there are some Major sources and varieties used in Egypt that comes foreign countries. these variety includes seed from Netherlands (Alpha, Spunta, Patrones, Mirka, Baraka, Desiree, Cardinal, Jaerla, Ajax, Sing, Ostara, and Draga), France (Claudia, Kerboni, and King Edward), ,Ireland (King Edward), ,Scotland (Arran Banner) and ,Germany (Grata and Cosima).
11. the Netherlands
The Netherlands was the ninth biggest in the world. According to the FAO database, in 2021, the production of potatoes in the Netherlands reach 6.6 million tons. the Dutch still plant 25 percent of Cultivation arable land around 160,000 ha. With advanced of technology, this potato’s yield in this country reaches forty-five tons per hectares. Statistically, half of the Netherlands’ potato crop is grown directly for food – around 20 percent is a seed production, and the remaining 30 percent is processed for starch. About 70 percent of Dutch ware potatoes are exported in the form of fresh tubers and potato products, such as chips and flour.
Bibliography Top 10 World’s Biggest Potato-Producing Countries
FAO. 2021. Production of Potatoes: top ten producers 2019. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on November 15th, 2021
Xie, K. The Status of Organic Potato Production in China. FAO. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/3/i0200e/I0200E09.htm on November 16th, 2021.
Produce Report. 2016. China’s newest breed of potato produces impressive results. Accessed via https://www.producereport.com/article/china%E2%80%99s-newest-breed-potato-produces-impressive-results on November 16th, 2021.
MapsofIndia. 2021.Top 10 Potato Producing States in India. Accessed via https://www.mapsofindia.com/top-ten/india-crops/potato.html on November 16th, 2021.
Vasileva, Y. 2013. Overview of Potato Supply and Demand in Russia. Accessed via https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/report/downloadreportbyfilename?filename=Overview%20of%20Potato%20Supply%20and%20Demand%20in%20Russia_Moscow_Russian%20Federation_10-31-2013.pdf on November 16th, 2021.
Ukrgate. 2021. Top-5 Regions of Ukraine in Terms of Potato Production. Accessed via https://www.ukrgate.com/eng/?p=8425 on November 16th, 2021.
Agro-center. 2018. Ukrainian scientists selected over one hundred potato varieties. Accessed via https://news.agro-center.com.ua/en/plant-growing-en/ukrainian-scientists-selected-over-100-potato-varieties.html on November 16th, 2021.
Statista. 2021. Potato production in the United States in 2020, by state. Accessed via https://www.statista.com/statistics/382166/us-potato-production-by-state/ on November 16th, 2021.
PotatoPro. 2016. The top six potato varieties grown in the United States (Fall Crop). Accessed via https://www.potatopro.com/news/2016/top-six-potato-varieties-grown-united-states-fall-crop on November 16th, 2021.
Banglapedia. 2021. Potato. Accessed via https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Potato on November 16th, 2021.
TasteAtlas. 2021. 6 Most Popular French Potatoes. Accessed via https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-potatoes-in-france on November 16th, 2021.
Potatopro. 2021. The Netherlands. Accessed via https://www.potatopro.com/netherlands/potato-statistics on November 16th, 2021.
