During 2014, death of
children in Thar made headlines. District administration provided 253,590 families
with bags, containing 50 KGs of wheat. People in poor regions are facing
malnourishment. People in many poor regions, like Thar, rely on wheat for fulfilling
their calorie needs.
Wheat crop needs more
water to grow than potato crop. Rice, second most consumed food in Pakistan,
also uses huge water. Rather than letting people die of under nutrition, policy-makers
should introduce potato as popular diet.
Earlier efforts were
made by General Ayub’s military Govt. to introduce potato as staple food, but
these were unsuccessful.
At present Potatoes,
after rice, wheat, and corn, is the fourth-most-consumed food crop in the world.
Potato, first
domesticated in areas of southern Peru and north western Bolivia, had played
huge role in Europe rise. Since the time it was introduced by Spanish, it has
revolutionized the Europe’s economy and impacted demographics. According to
historian William H. McNeill : “By feeding
rapidly growing populations, [it] permitted a handful of European nations to
assert dominion over most of the world between 1750 and 1950”
Agronomists have long been in favor of potato farming in regions with malnutrition, pasture shortage, and poverty due to its high nutrient levels and the ability to grow in challenging conditions.
Agronomists have long been in favor of potato farming in regions with malnutrition, pasture shortage, and poverty due to its high nutrient levels and the ability to grow in challenging conditions.
The potato stands out
for its effective water use, yielding more food per unit of water than any
other major crop. An increase in the proportion of potato in daily diet can
help alleviate pressure on fresh water resources.
Furthermore, Potato
production is two times more labor intensive than grain production. Hence more
jobs for people living in unirrigated lands. Its productive land usage is another edge over
other crops, as it yields four times more per hectare yield than wheat. It can
free up land for rapid urbanization.
Replacing wheat with
potato in our daily diet is not only healthy but also good for economy.
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