Project

Project purpose

Anticipations

Project definition

Famine is a worldwide phenomenon. No nation has ever escaped this periodical catastrophe. As history would remember, Europe is one of the continents to have witnessed this natural phenomenon for a number of times. However, from mid 19th century the continent has been able to overcome famine, thanks to the introduction of potato tuber from South America.

In the mid nineteenth century wheat production in Europe was in its primitive stage. The Suez Canal, through which grains could be transported from Asia to Europe, was not built nor was American agriculture in a position to feed a continent like Europe. At that hour, it was the potatoes that came to the rescue, thus bringing an end to food scarcity in the continent. Potatoes had the maximum productivity and advantages over any other staple food.

History of cereals like rice, wheat or maize dates back to a thousand years. However, these grass plants yield very less compared to the hard work put in sowing these plants. Irrespective of the climatic condition, a farmer had to give all his labour to produce only a few bags of these grass seeds and to top all there was no alternative to this painful process of cereal growing.

It was much later with the introduction of potatoes that European people could find an alternative. Gradually, potatoes not only became a basic human diet for the Europeans but also became a food for the cattle, poultry and other domestic animals. Productivity of potatoes per hectare was ten times more than that of wheat.

For instance, the hectare yield of potatoes at the end of nineteenth century in Germany saw a leap of more than 12,000 kg, whereas hectare yield of wheat was between 600 kg and 700 kg. This leap in the production of potatoes had a major impact on the increase of food production. Thus Europe, for once and all, was able to get rid of hunger from the continent.

However, parallel to potatoes, Europeans also cultivated wheat to strike a balance between the two staple foods so that the people of Europe never had to experience scarcity of food during emergency. This in the long run helped the continent to overcome famine.

With this potatoes became a familiar name with the people in all parts of the globe. It was during this time that France and England possessed many colonies in Africa and Asia. Initially the colonies strictly denied growing tuber plants as their staple diet. Hence, potatoes didn't become a common food there. As a result, the fact that potatoes could prevent hunger remained unknown to these colonies.

At present, about 1400 million hectare land world-wide are available for agricultural use, out of which more than 700 million hectare land are occupied for cereal production. Potatoes are cultivated on less than 2% of the entire world arable land. Whereas, about 10% of entire world land surface is known as fertile ground for agricultural use. The other 90% is occupied by deserts, mountains, dense forests, prairies, cold regions etc. Virgin forest has been demolished, terraces in the mountains have been laid out, unfertile land has been transferred to fertile land, and its this way that people are trying to acquire more land to increase their grain production.

Potatoes not only helped Europe to overcome famine but also helped in reducing landlessness for the farmers. Before Europe knew about potato cultivation, many landless farmers of the continent had to earn their livelihood as cheap or bonded labour. Potato cultivation gradually reduced this problem of landlessness. More and more farmers slowly started growing potatoes on a very small plot of land. In fact, people used those lands for growing potatoes which were not suitable for growing of wheat and other crops.

Reduced demand for grain will reduce demand for agricultural land. Millions of landless farmers in the developing countries will benefit if they produce food in their own small plot of land. All the poor countries with extensive cereal production can make enormous profit out of it. This will bring an end to hunger and under nourishment and will also serve as a protective shield to the environment.

Growing potatoes has an advantage over the others. For growing cereals like wheat, maize and rice, a farmer needs to fulfil certain basic requirements like suitable agricultural land, temperature, humidity, rain and water supply. Whereas, potatoes can survive extreme climates and can also be grown anywhere from sandy to loamy soil or even on semi-arid land. Water requirement is also less compared to other cereals.

Modern food analysts have proven that 2 to 3 kg of boiled potatoes a day for an adult (who takes potatoes only) is enough to have all necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals. They are also of the opinion that consumption of potatoes is healthier than rice, maize or wheat.

Thus, it can be said that at this hour when cereal production is not in a position to supply enough food to the world, the only alternative that we can look forward to is growing of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum ).

About WPP

WPP is a charitable organisation. It is a passive, decentralised and product oriented project. The only objective of this project is to spread awareness among the people about potatoes and its advantages. WPP will achieve its goal once potato cultivation spreads throughout the world and potatoes are recognised as staple food. Institutions, organisations or private persons independently can implement the project.

Implementation

Potato Seed Programme

Farmers commitment

Farmers who receive free potatoes seeds will remain morally obliged to propagate potato growing among the other farmers.

Potato Food Programme

Under this programme potatoes are distributed as staple food among people who are prey to hunger and are suffering from malnutrition. Through this programme people will learn to eat potatoes as staple food as well as will grow potatoes themselves.

Procurement of potatoes

Farmers can procure both potatoes and its seeds from local traders. It saves transport expenditures, reduce the risk of any damage and at the same time mobilises the local activities of marketing and cultivation of potatoes.

Potato Information Programme

This is a theory part which explains the focus of the program. The main objective of this programme is to spread awareness among the people of the developing countries about potato cultivation and its advantages over the other food grains. Potato cultivation, consumption of potatoes as healthy and staple food and its economical importance of potatoes are the significant contents of this programme. Brochures and booklets on potato cultivation, its diseases and pest control, storage, nutrition and marketing are also published from time to time in different languages. Simultaneously, maintaining a liaison with the governments, international organisations, academic institutions and private intellectuals also form a part of the programme.