Know your favourite potato.

1.The United Nations have officially declared the year 2008 the International Year of the Potato [14] in order to "increase awareness of the importance of the potato as a food in developing nations". There was already the International Rice Year in 2004.

2. The potato originated in the area of contemporary Peru and Bolivia,[2] identified more specifically in research published by David Spooner in 2005 as an area of southern Peru, just north of Lake Titicaca.

3. Potato was known to the world in the year 1532 A.D when Spanish invaded the Andeans. While Spanish Solders were searching for Gold and Silver they could find Potato. From 1565 Spain started cultivating Potato.

4. From 1597 England also started cultivating Potato.

5. From 1973 to 2005 Russia is the first in cultivation of Potato.

6. China stands first with 703 laks tons in cultivation of Potato (20%). Second is Russia with 386 lakh tons and India stands in third place with 239 laks tons.

7. The highest consumption per head per year is 340 Kilo Grams by Belarasys. Indias per head consumption is 140 Kilo Grams per year.

8.Potato was introduced to Europe probably in the 1570s, or approximately eighty years after the first voyage of Columbus in 1492, and subsequently by European mariners to territories and ports throughout the world as European colonization expanded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Generally the color of potato is wheat color. Potatoes are available in different colors like blue, rose, and purple.

9. Potato is cooked in different ways. Potato chips are very famous. Alu Mattar and Alu Kurma are delicious curries for rottis and biryani. Alu Biryani is very interesting item. More