Potatoes are an economical food; they provide a source of low cost energy to the human diet. Potatoes are a rich source of starch, vitamins especially C and B1 and minerals. They contain 20.6 per cent carbohydrates, 2.1 per cent protein, 0.3 per cent fat, 1.1 per cent crude fibre and 0.9 per cent ash.
What is the economic importance of sweet potato?
Aside from being a subsistence crop, sweetpotato makes a large contribution to livestock production in many areas. The International Potato Centre reported that the share used as feed in Asia jumping from 14.5% in 1961-63 to 44% in 1993-95.
What is the role of potatoes in the world?
The potato is the third most important food crop in the world after rice and wheat in terms of human consumption. More than a billion people worldwide eat potato, and global total crop production exceeds 300 million metric tons.
Why was the potato particularly important?
More than that, as the historian William H. McNeill has argued, the potato led to empire: “By feeding rapidly growing populations, [it] permitted a handful of European nations to assert dominion over most of the world between 1750 and 1950.” The potato, in other words, fueled the rise of the West.
What is the economic importance of wheat?
Various studies and researches show that wheat and wheat flour play an increasingly important role in the management of Indias food economy. Wheat production is about 70 million tonnes per year in India and counts for approximately 12 per cent of world production.
What is the economic importance of tomato?
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculenta) is an important vegetable crop grown in many parts of the world, contributing significantly to income security and the nutritive diets of many households. According to Mofeke et al. (2003) vegetable crops constitute 30 to 50% of iron and vitamin A in resource poor diet.
What is the economic importance of cassava?
Cassava is important, not just as a food crop but even more so as a major source of cash income for producing households. As a cash crop, cassava generates cash income for the largest number of households, in comparison with other staples, contributing positively to poverty alleviation.
Why are potatoes so important in many cultures?
They become valuable to some peoples because they are able to grow in geographical locations or in weather situations that would cause other crops to fail. They are also incredibly nutritious, providing all that is necessary for survival.
How did potatoes impact the environment?
“Potatoes were shown to have the lowest levels of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to both pasta and rice. Potatoes were also shown to have significantly lower levels of overall water usage than rice.”
Why have potatoes become such an important part of the American diet?
Potatoes are rich in vitamin C — at various points in history, they may have prevented scurvy — and a better source of potassium than bananas. They also contain several B vitamins, some iron and other important nutrients. While they don’t contain much protein, we can easily absorb what protein they do have.
Why were potatoes One of the most important crops brought to the Old World?
One of the most important crops brought to the Old World was the potato. Nunn and Qian (2010) claim it is the crop with the largest impact on the Old World. It is a tubular with enough vitamins to prevent scurvy and enough starch and water to eat as one’s only food (Mann, 2011).
How much nutrition is in a potato?
Nutrients per Serving
One medium potato contains: Calories: 265. Protein: 6 grams. Fat: 0 grams.
Who discovered potato?
The Inca Indians in Peru were the first to cultivate potatoes around 8,000 BC to 5,000 B.C. In 1536, Spanish Conquistadors in Peru discovered the flavors of the potato and transported them to Europe.
What is the economic importance of rice?
Worldwide, rice is one of the most important crops and it represents a staple food for over half of the world’s population, with a global production of more than 700 million tons per year [1] and a harvested area reaching 165 million ha.
What is the economic importance of maize?
Economical Importance
Maize is very important because of good source of minerals, vitamins, fiber and oil present in maize (rich in embryo). This oil is used for cooking and soap making companies. Maize starch is famous in pharmaceutical Industries as diluents and also used in cosmetics.
What is the importance of corn?
As the world’s most dominant and productive crop, with extensive areas of land dedicated to global production yields of over 1 billion metric tons, corn is used for a variety of purposes — including animal feed, grain for human consumption, ethanol, as well as for high fructose corn syrup, sweeteners, starch, and for
What is the economic value of mango?
Economic Importance of mango
A good mango variety contains 20% of total soluble sugars. Mango fruit has an acidic level ranging from 0.2 to 0.5% and a protein content of about 1%. Mango is used in the manufacturing of traditional products and also used in fruit processing industries.
What is the importance of tomato plant?
They are especially high in lycopene, a plant compound linked to improved heart health, cancer prevention, and protection against sunburns. Tomatoes can be a valuable part of a healthy diet.
What is economic importance of Cocoyam?
Background. Cocoyam is an important food security crop in Ghana because it stores better than all other root and tuber crops. Despite its socio-economic relevance, production has declined persistently since the last decade.
What are the industrial uses of cassava?
As an important raw material, cassava is a valuable food source in developing countries, and extensively employed for producing starch, bioethanol and other bio-based products (e.g., feed, medicine, cosmetics, and biopolymers).
What is the uses of cassava?
Cassava is widely used in most tropical areas for feeding pigs, cattle, sheep and poultry. Dried peels of cassava roots are fed to sheep and goats, and raw or boiled roots are mixed into a mash with protein concentrates such as maize, sorghum, groundnut or oil-palm kernel meals and mineral salts for livestock feeding.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.