ABSTRACT
Humans intervene in the potato production process by manipulating both the plant and its physical environment. The complexity of these manipulations is illustrated by the sophistication of pre-Columbian Andean agriculture. The development of potato production in India provides a striking counterpoint to the pattern in the Andes. Four aspects of contemporary economic development can be expected to affect potato production and use: increased per capita income; urbanization; improvements in transportation; and declining relative prices for agricultural inputs such as tractors, implements, fertilizers, and pesticides. Government policies and programs influence potato production and use in many ways, some of which are unanticipated or unintended. Potato production and marketing systems, as well as research and extension, need to be geared to the existing land tenure system, and changes in tenure patterns require corresponding adjustments in these systems. Research policy is probably the single strongest instrument the public sector can employ to directly influence long-term trends in crop production.
