Competitiveness and Policy Analysis of Potato Production in Different Agro-ecological Zones of Northern Areas: Implications for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation

In: The Pakistan development review: PDR, Band 45, Heft 4II, S. 1137-1154

Abstract

Potato (L. Solanum tuberosum) belongs to Solanaceae family. It
is the most important dicotyledonous tuber crop and possesses major
socio-economic importance worldwide. It is the fourth most cultivated
food crop after wheat, rice and maize in world. Potato is a good and
cheaper source of carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and proteins and
also provides most of the trace elements, which can meet the energy
requirement of the people living in the developing countries like
Pakistan [Rahman (1986)]. About 325 million metric ton of potato is
produced annually throughout the world [World Book (2001)]. This crop is
financially more remunerative than cereals from food security and can be
recommended as a partial replacement of cereals.