Potato

By: Bikal Dhungel 

Facebook is booming. People like every kind of pictures. Recently, I saw a picture of potato in my facebook wall where somebody had written, “Let’s see how many likes this potato gets”. People like every stupid picture about everything. It disturbed somebody and he posted a picture of potato to get liked. I didn’t like that. I didn’t like the idea of undermining the importance of potato. Those who think that potatoes are simply an unimportant object that should be the last one remaining, to get likes in facebook, havent done enough homework about the role potato played in human civilization. 

Potatoes are amazing and I love it. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) reports that worldwide 324 million tonnes of potatoes are produced every year, this means roughly 33 kg per person per year. We not only eat it directly but have potatoes as other type of food like potato chips, mashed potato with yogurt or milk, pancakes potatoes and potatoes cooked in different ways like boiled, baked etc. A variety of potato gained more popularity when Prince William married Catherine Middleton. It was revealed that both of them used to eat Fish and Chips (potatoes) during university years in St. Andrews, Scotland. Many people went to that spot to try the same dish. 

Potato was first found in the Americas and the European colonizers brought it to Europe. Historically, potato played an important role to save human lives. During the famines where other crops fell due to bad weather, potato helped humans to survive because of its adaptiveness with bad weather and it also provided several times more calories than grains. In time of famine, it was a good alternative for other foods. The cultivation of potatoes throughout Europe grew in higher rate. Economic historians claim that potato promoted economic development of Great Britain during the Industrial Revolution. It was a cheap source of calories and in time of urbanisation during industrialisation, it was a good option as potato was easier to cultivate. One could even do it in the backyard. As there was enough potato or enough food, economic historians further claim that potato accelerated population growth. In other parts of the world, when population grew, the food supply was secured by the cultivation of potatoes. In times of war, many German leaders frequently told the people to cultivate potatoes. This became a popular culture and still today, potato is a vital part of German meal. It is unofficially regarded as a national dish. Some stereotypes also used this as an abusive word to the Germans. If you have a German friend, never tell him/her a potato.

However, potato also caused some big problems. Some countries in Europe were very dependent on it for example Ireland. Ireland was very dependent on Potato. When a disease called potato blight broke out, almost one million Irish people died. A large number immigrated to the United States and United Kingdom, a reason why the Irish make one of the largest immigrant groups in the United States. J. F Kennedy, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and even Barack Obama have Irish roots. During the famine, Ireland’s population decreased by one quarter. This event is called ‘The Great Famine’ in Ireland and ‘The Potato Famine’ in the rest of the world. 

Whatsoever, potatoes have saved millions of lives in other parts of the world. It has enriched mankind. It has helped in human economic growth and continues to do so. It also gives pleasure to us as variety of foods that we consume everyday. 

Today potatoes are consumed all over the world. China, India, Russia, United States and Germany are largest producers. The year 2008 was regarded as ‘International Year of the Potato’ by the FAO. The Swiss Post also brought out the post stamps with potatoes. In Germany there are two potato museums, one in Munich called 'Das Kartoffel Museum' and another called ' Deutsches Kartoffelmuseum' in Fussgoenheim in the state of Rheinland-Palatinate. Not only in Germany, there are other potato museums in the United States, Canada, Belgium, Denmark and Singapore.

In our world where over 1 billion people live in extreme poverty, potatoes can help a lot or are already helping to reduce hunger and starvation. In places where it has not reached yet, good policies should be implemented to bring potatoes to every hungry man’s plate. It has a large role to play to fulfill the Millenium Development Goals. Potato is important to us, it has made our life better hence it deserves respect.

So, if you get a picture of a potato in your facebook wall, give a like because potato is important and not less important.