31 January 2023
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Provisional data shows decrease since record growing year of 2021.
THE world's potato production decreased by 6% in 2022, according to latest figures published by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
While the figures are provisional pending specific data, early indications show that unfavourable weather conditions and a decrease in planted area has led to global production dropping to 354.3 million tons.
This follows a record production year in 2021, when the world produced 376.1 million tons of potatoes and the area devoted to growing increased by 7.4% to 18 million hectares, the highest level since 2013, according to the World Potato Markets report.
The highest growth has been recorded in Asia, which increased its area by 15% to 10.3 million hectares, while European areas are estimated to have fallen by 3.5% to 4.3 million hectares. Yields fell in all major producing regions except Oceania.
Asia continued to produce more than half of the world's potatoes, with production increasing by 15.3% to 197.5 million tons. China produced 94.4 million tons and India 54.2 million. Europe is the second-largest producing area, with 102.5 million tons, i.e. 3.8% less than in the previous year. It is followed by Africa, with 28 million tons, a stable level.
