China studies humble potato as way to beat drought

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSPEK15850720070814

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese farming experts are considering planting potatoes instead of rice and wheat as a way to beat crippling drought each year, state media said on Tuesday.

But the government would have to provide subsidies to persuade farmers to make the switch, they said.

"The potato is more drought-resistant than rice and wheat, which suits China better as 60 percent of the country's arable land is dry," Qu Dongyu, a potato farming specialist with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

China, widely hit by summer floods, also suffers from a shortage of 30 billion cubic meters of water for irrigation every year.

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[soothsayer]

1. wow, i see a new potato famine coming (from our labs) to punish the chinese

[TwilightGardener]

2. Curious to see what sort of culinary magic the Chinese will work with taters.

And here I didn't think it could get any better than Cracker Barrel's Hash Brown Casserole. Top that, China!

[phantom power]

3. For some reason, I picture this...

Harvest the potato. Pickle it, then bury it for 10 years in soft peat moss, wrapped in clay. Exhume it, and declare it a delicacy.

[TwilightGardener]

4. LOL! Hey, it worked for eggs!

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Irish Kim-chi!

An' will you be after servin' that to Mr. Park with a pint of Guiness?

--p!