In China, potatoes have long been used as a vegetable, rather than a staple food, because traditional crops such as rice and wheat are more popular. Therefore, the status of potato as a staple food has been difficult to improve.
Although potatoes are rich in starch and vitamins and can be stored for up to 8 months, many Chinese prefer rice and steamed rice.
There is a saying that "if you don't eat potatoes for a day, your stomach growls in the middle of the night", which shows that potatoes are not so important in the minds of Chinese.
However, with the rapid growth of Chinese's population and the reduction of arable land, China has had to face real pressures on food security.
In 2015, China recognized the need to change its concept and make full use of the potato crop, which is known as the "underground", and formally put forward the strategic policy of turning potato as a staple food.
This strategic goal is clear, that is, to vigorously develop the potato industry and strive to make it one of the main food products in China.
In developing its potato strategy, China** drew on the success of India, the world's largest potato producer. India is dominated by smallholder farming and scattered production, while a well-established agricultural procurement system has ensured a stable supply of potatoes.
Based on the specific conditions of different regions, China has set up a number of potato planting bases, realized the scale and automation of production, and greatly increased the yield of potatoes in China.
It can be said that the staple food of potatoes is a necessary measure to adapt to China's national conditions. This can not only make full use of the advantages of high yield and storage of potatoes, but also provide new ideas for alleviating the pressure on China's grain.
While actively learning from global experience, China is also constantly exploring effective ways to turn potatoes into a staple food, which is a major strategic adjustment and has far-reaching significance for ensuring food security.
In cold Russia, potatoes have long been a staple food, unlike in China. Most of Russia is in the cold zone, and the valley plains are suitable for potato growth, but wheat and rice are difficult to harvest in severe cold conditions.
Potatoes are extremely cold tolerant and are able to grow normally at low temperatures. Every year in September, Russian farmers harvest potatoes before the first snowfall.
During the potato harvest season, the farmers' faces are filled with joyful smiles, and the golden potato bags are overflowing. These harvested potatoes not only provide them with plenty of food until the next year, but also serve as a good ingredient for a variety of traditional dishes.
Russian potato dishes with sour cream and caviar are delicious. Potatoes are fully exploited in their food culture and are both good in color and flavor.
Thanks to the potato, an excellent fighter against the cold, the Russian people managed to obtain a stable diet**. According to 2020 statistics, Russia's potato production is up to 21 million tons.
Potatoes enrich the table and life of Russians. It has become an indispensable symbol of food and culture in Russia.
In 2020, China's potato production reached 90 million tons, a figure that shook the world, indicating that China's potato industry is developing rapidly.
With the strong support of **, new high-yielding potato varieties are constantly being introduced and cultivated throughout China. In some areas, potato cooperatives and planting bases have also been established to achieve large-scale production.
The use of advanced mechanized farming technology and scientific fertilization management has also increased yields.
However, despite the significant increase in potato production, China is still facing significant food pressure. Chinese have a large population, but the per capita arable land area is only 14 acres, far below the world average.
It is difficult to meet the needs of 1.4 billion people on farmland alone.
Therefore, China has decided to further develop the potato industry, taking advantage of its high yield and good storage, and making it the new staple food**. This will not only increase the total amount of food, but also expand farmers' planting options and diversify their food.
The development of potatoes as a staple food can lead to the development of related industries, such as storage and processing.
Although China is the world's largest potato producer, the problem of food security is still severe, and it is necessary to further develop the potato staple food to solve this problem.
China will continue to actively promote the potato strategy to ensure the food security of 1.4 billion people.
The successful implementation of potato staple food is a complex system project, which cannot rely on the strength of only one or two points, but needs to increase efforts in many aspects.
First, China should step up its scientific research efforts to breed more new varieties of potatoes with high quality and high yields. This requires the support of scientific research forces in the fields of nutrient science and breeding, as well as long-term breeding experiments.
New potato varieties should not only focus on high yield, but also take into account various indicators such as taste and disease resistance. Only advanced new potato varieties can support the task of large-scale planting.
Second, China should intensify the construction of potato planting bases and expand potato planting area and production capacity. This requires the selection of a suitable soil environment, the construction of standardized planting facilities and processes, and the implementation of mechanization and refined management.
Expanding the scale can not only increase production, but also facilitate the development of industrialization.
China needs to step up the processing and marketing of potato products again. It is necessary to change the traditional single way of eating and improve the status of potatoes on the table through research and development of innovative potato processed products.
It is necessary to create a brand effect of potato products, so that consumers can fully understand the nutrition and deliciousness of potatoes.
Finally, China needs to increase awareness and education about potatoes as a staple food. Activities should be organized to educate the population about the benefits of potatoes, change traditional attitudes and embrace new staple foods.
Only with the active cooperation of the broad masses of the people can the potato staple food be truly implemented.
Potato staple food is an all-round systematic project. It is necessary for China to coordinate and allocate various resources, and increase investment and support in scientific research, production, marketing and education.
We will promote this great strategy with firm confidence, so that the potato will be more firmly positioned as the staple food and provide strong support for national food security.
Potato staple food is an important measure for China to cope with the pressure of food security and promote agricultural development. We need to learn from the world's successful experience, constantly improve the technology and concept, and persist in promoting this system engineering.
We need to continue to increase scientific research efforts to breed more new varieties of potatoes with high yields and high quality, and at the same time, we need to accelerate the construction of large-scale potato production bases in order to expand the planting area.
It is necessary to strengthen the deep processing and marketing strategies of potato products, and innovate the way potatoes are eaten to attract consumers. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen publicity and education among the people in order to gain the recognition and support of all sectors of society.
Potato staple food is very important to the national economy and people's livelihood. We will devote ourselves to this project with full enthusiasm, pay close attention to its effects, and improve work efficiency.
The joint efforts of the whole society will surely witness the rise of potatoes on the Chinese table and provide strong support for national food security and the improvement of people's lives.
We look forward to the great achievements of the potato staple food strategy in the happy smiling faces of the people.