Peru Maintains its Position Among Top 15 Potato Producers in the World

Within the framework of the country's National Potato Day, which takes place May 30, Peru has consolidated its position among the top 15 producers of this Andean tuber in the world, given the active participation of over 700,000 small producers, who cultivate potatoes in 19 regions across the country.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), the South American nation is one of the main suppliers of spuds, with an annual production of 5.3 million tons —as registered in 2019— and whose volume contributes to meeting the food needs of a population of 32 million consumers nationwide. The results of the Andean tuber production confirm Peru's position as the 14th world producer of potatoes.

Ahead of Peru are China, India, Russia, Poland, the United States, Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands, Belarus, France, Iran, Turkey, and Canada.

Potatoes are of economic and social importance in the world as the third food crop in terms of human consumption, after rice and wheat. World-renowned as the originating place of the potato plant, Peru has thousands of native potato varieties and, as a result of the global crisis caused by COVID-19, calls for the enhancement of agro biodiversity, and for the recognition of those who preserve the more than 3,000 potato varieties.