October 8, 2007

China to shift grain emphasis to include potato

In a move designed to ensure the nation's grain security, China said it is embarking on a campaign to step up potato production, Xinhua News reported. 

While addressing a recent national-level meeting on development of potato-based industries in Dingxi City of northwest China's Gansu province, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Wei Chao'an said that it would be difficult to expand the area of irrigated farmland in China, given the huge population, limited land and shortage of water resources.

Wei believed that potato, being drought-resistant, cold-resistant and is widely adaptable in most places, has great potential in expansion in sown areas.

Potato can alleviate the shortage of arable land and water resources, and add a source of food via enormously expanding potato-based industries, he said.

Potatoes also have a greater industrial demand in comparison with other grain crops such as rice, corn, wheat, and soy and thus a potential for higher profits.

Wei also announced the ministry's plan to construct 10 high-yield potato growing demonstration bases in five southern Chinese regions in winter, with each base covering 1,645 acres.