Africa

Potato arrived late in Africa, around the turn of the 20th century. In recent decades, production has been in continual expansion, rising from 2 million tonnes in 1960 to a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2006. Potatoes are grown under a wide range of conditions - from irrigated commercial farms in Egypt and South Africa to intensively cultivated tropical highland zones of Eastern and Central Africa, where it is mainly a small farmer's crop.

1. Egypt

البطاطس
Production, 2007
Harvested area
105 000 ha
Quantity
2 600 000 t
Yield
25 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
74 033 000
Food consumption
1 599 000 t
Consumption/capita
24.7 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

The potato was introduced to Egypt during the 1800s, and large scale cultivation began during the First World War, when British colonial officials encouraged its production to feed their troops. After the war, however, expansion of potato growing was hampered by the poor quality of imported seed and by farmers' inexperience with the crop.

That has changed. Since 1961, Egypt's irrigated potato production - concentrated in the Nile River delta in the north - has expanded at a rate of more than 5 percent a year. Between 1990 and 2007, annual output rose from 1.6 million tonnes to some 2.6 million tonnes, making Egypt Africa's No. 1 potato producer.

Egypt also ranks among the world's top potato exporters - in 2004, exports totalled more than 380 000 tonnes of fresh potatoes and 18 000 tonnes of frozen potato products, destined mainly for markets in Europe.

Note. According to FAO estimates of potato production in Africa in 2007, three countries - Algeria, Malawi and South Africa - shared second place among the region's top producers.

2=. Algeria

البطاطس
Production, 2007
Harvested area
90 000 ha
Quantity
1 900 000 t
Yield
21.1 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
32 854 000
Food consumption
1 887 000 t
Consumption/capita
57.3 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

After Solanum tuberosum's introduction to Algeria, in the mid-1800s, potatoes were grown mainly for export to French markets. By national independence from France, in 1962, farmers were harvesting on average 250 000 tonnes a year, with about one third marked for export.

Since then, the potato has become an increasingly important crop for domestic consumption, with production in 2006 reaching a record 2.18 million tonnes. Potato is grown over an area of 90 000 ha, and can be planted and harvested somewhere in Algeria in virtually any month of the year.

The main fresh potato growing areas are along the Mediterranean coast, where a mild climate permits year-round production. Potatoes are also grown at elevations of 500 m in hills and valleys between the coast and the Atlas Mountains, and in high plateau areas. Annual potato consumption in Algeria has increased from 35 kg in 1990 to around 57 kg in 2005.

2=. Malawi

mbatata, potato
Production, 2007
Harvested area
160 000 ha
Quantity
1 900 000 t
Yield
11.8 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
12 884 000
Food consumption
1 162 000 t
Consumption/capita
87.6 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

Potatoes came to East Africa in the 19th century, brought by missionaries and European colonialists. But the crop did not become important to Malawians until the 1960s, when production reached around 60 000 tonnes a year.

Now Malawi is one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest potato producers, with a 2007 harvest of 1.9 million tonnes. The potato is grown mainly in highland areas in the country's southern and central regions, the most suitable areas being at altitudes of between 1 000 and 2 000 m and with more than 750 mm of annual rainfall. In parts of the southern region, farmers can grow two crops each year. Potatoes are often planted with maize and beans during the main October-March season.

Only a tiny proportion of Malawi's potatoes is exported. Annual consumption has more than tripled over the past 15 years to a high 88 kg per capita.

2=. South Africa

aartappel, igwili, itapile, izambane, letapola, potato...
Production, 2007
Harvested area
58 000 ha
Quantity
1 900 000 t
Yield
32.7 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
47 432 000
Food consumption
1 413 000 t
Consumption/capita
29.2 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

Dutch seafarers heading for East Asia probably brought the potato to South Africa in the 1600s (it is thought sailors encouraged potato growing at ports of call so they could re-supply with fresh tubers during ocean voyages).

South Africa's potato output has grown strongly over the past 15 years, from 1.2 million tonnes in 1990 to a record 1.9 million tonnes in 2007. In the same period, the potato farming area actually declined, from 63 000 ha to 58 000 ha. Most potatoes are grown on relatively large farms, increasingly under irrigation, with yields averaging around 30 tonnes per hectare.

South Africa boasts a sophisticated seed potato industry and - thanks largely to the country's rapid rate of urbanization - a vibrant potato processing sector, which utilizes some 250 000 tonnes of potatoes per year, mainly for frozen french fries and crisps. Annual potato consumption is around 30 kg per person.

5. Morocco

البطاطس
Production, 2007
Harvested area
60 000 ha
Quantity
1 450 000 t
Yield
24.1 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
31 478 000
Food consumption
1 259 000 t
Consumption/capita
41.24 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

The potato was probably well established in Morocco before the country became a French protectorate in 1910. Over the following century - and particularly since independence in 1956 - production has expanded strongly, rising from about 150 000 tonnes in 1961 to a record 1.56 million tonnes in 2006. In the same period, yields grew from 10 tonnes per ha to more than 26 tonnes.

By sheer weight, the potato is now Morocco's third biggest crop, after sugar beets and wheat, and second only to tomatoes among exported vegetables, with more than 40 000 tonnes shipped to Europe in 2005.

Except for a brief period during the May-July winter months, potatoes are grown year round. Production of fresh potatoes is concentrated along the Atlantic Coast north and south of Casablanca, where a modified Mediterranean climate provides very favourable growing conditions. Potatoes are also grown in high, rugged parts of the Atlas mountains, at elevations of more than 3 000 m. The average Moroccan consumes about 42 kg of potatoes a year.

6. Rwanda

ibirayi, potato, pomme de terre
Production, 2007
Harvested area
133 000 ha
Quantity
1 200 000 t
Yield
9 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
9 038 000
Food consumption
1 155 000 t
Consumption/capita
124.83 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

The potato came with German soldiers and Belgian missionaries to Rwanda in the early 20th century. Today, ibirayi - derived from uburayi ("that which comes from Europe") - are the country's second most important crop after plantains and, in the sub-Saharan region, Rwanda is the third largest potato producer.

Since 1961, Rwanda's potato output has risen from less than 100 000 tonnes to a 1.3 million tonnes in 2005. The harvest in 2007 was only slightly smaller. Potatoes grow well in several parts of country - mainly above elevations of 1 800 m - and some areas grow two crops a year. Most of potato sector consists of small family farms that intercrop potato with beans and maize, and yields average almost 10 tonnes per hectare.

The potato underpins Rwanda's food security. Annual consumption is a very high 124 kg per person, making potato the country's second most important source of calorie intake after cassava.

7. Nigeria

potato, nduko, dankalin turawa, duku, atsaka
Production, 2007
Harvested area
270 000 ha
Quantity
843 000 t
Yield
3.1 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
131 530 000
Food consumption
502 000 t
Consumption/capita
3.1 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

In the potato world, Africa's most populous country, Nigeria, stands out: it is the fourth biggest producer of potato in sub-Saharan Africa, has almost as much land under potato as Germany, and potato output has grown sevenfold over the past decade, reaching 843 000 tonnes in 2007.

The main potato growing area is the Jos plateau, where altitudes ranging from 1 200 to 1 400 m and summer temperatures that rarely exceed 35°C make for a temperate climate well suited to potato production. However, productivity is constrained by a lack of suitable varieties, and high land and labour costs. In fact, Nigeria records one of the world's lowest average potato yields, little more than 3.1 tonnes per hectare.

Potato consumption is also very low, at around 3.2 kg per capita per year. However, Nigeria's taste for potatoes, especially in rapidly growing urban areas, is increasing - since 2000, imports of raw and processed potatoes have risen from less than 9 000 tonnes to 40 000 tonnes a year.

8. Kenya

kiazi, egiasi, mbatata, potato, enkwashei
Production, 2007
Harvested area
120 000 ha
Quantity
800 000 t
Yield
6.6 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
34 256 000
Food consumption
874 000 t
Consumption/capita
24.45 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

Introduced to East Africa by British farmers in the 1880s, the potato has grown in importance - both as a staple food and as a source of farmer incomes - over the past 30 years. Measured by quantity harvested, it now ranks as the country's No. 2 food crop, after maize, with production in 2007 totalling around 800 000 tonnes.

The potato in Kenya is grown mainly by small scale farmers, many of them women, although some larger-scale growers specialize in commercial production. Cultivation is concentrated in highland areas of from 1 200 to 3 000 m above sea level.

Nearly all of Kenya's potatoes are consumed locally, at an average rate of almost 25 kg per capita a year. Kiazi is relished not only by the rural people who grow them, but by higher-income urban dwellers as well - while in some African countries potato is considered a "poor person's food", in Kenya it is considered a high quality and prestigious food item.

9. Uganda

kiazi, lumonde, potato
Production, 2007
Harvested area
93 000 ha
Quantity
650 000 t
Yield
6.9 t/ha
Consumption, 2005
Population
28 816 000
Food consumption
403 000 t
Consumption/capita
13.87 kg
Source: FAOSTAT

Potato cultivation reached Uganda early in the 1900s, thanks probably to missionaries from the Congo. By mid-century the tubers were widely grown in the country's cool highlands - in fact, the plant was so prolific in some areas that it was regarded as a weed.

In the 1960s, the Ugandan Department of Agriculture and CIP collaborated in potato development programmes that helped boost average yields to 10 tonnes per hectare. Potato output topped 350 000 tonnes in the 1970s, but dropped sharply during the widespread civil strife of the following decade.

Since 1990, potato production has rebounded, rising from 224 000 tonnes to a record 650 000 tonnes in 2007. In the same period, the area under potato tripled to an estimated 93 000 ha. Almost half of the national harvest comes from the intensely farmed Kabale highlands, which lie at 2 000 m. above sea level, some 400 km southwest of Kampala.

Sources: CIP World Potato Atlas; FAOSTAT; World Potato Congress; Potatoes South Africa