Potatoes have been grown on the Korean Peninsula since the early 19th century and possibly longer. Several authors indicate 1824 as the date of introduction, though the circumstances and even the source are unclear (Yu, 1980; Kim, 1977; Young-II, 1974; Cho, 1975). The most often mentioned possible sources are Manchuria, India, and China. The crop was initially adopted in the northern highlands and gradually spread southward and to lower elevations (Horton, et.al. 1987).
The expansion of Korean potato production, with that of other root crops, accelerated during Japanese occupation, from 1910 to 1945. The Japanese introduced American varieties, notably Irish Cobbler, and actively encouraged their production (Horton, et.al. 1987). This policy was undertaken, along with the importation of coarse grains from Manchuria, to facilitate massive exports of Korean rice to Japan. From 1917 to 1938, rice exports increased tenfold, while per capita consumption fell to half its former level (Anonymous, 1978; Lee, 1982). Potatoes became a major staple during the severe shortages caused by the Second World War, gaining an unenviable reputation as a "famine food" in the minds of many people (Horton, et.al. 1987).
The division of the country in 1945 cut off the South from traditional areas of seed potato production, necessitating the development of new seed production zones. Following the Korean War, potato production increased in response to demand from foreigners and growing numbers of urban consumers. During the early 1960's an agronomic research program for potatoes was undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, including establishment of a seed production and certification program in 1961 (Young-II, 1974; Horton, et.al. 1987).
Production peaked in 1966 at 688,000 tons. Over the next decade, production fluctuated between 460,000 and 660,000 tons, then plummeted to 304,000 tons in 1978. Chu, et.al. (1982) attribute the decline to the rejection of low status root crops by increasingly affluent consumers. Horton, et.al. (1987) point out that demand and prices for potatoes increased through the 1960's and 1970's due to a drop in price caused by the collapse of the government seed potato system. In 1978 a new seed potato program was established and production began to recover. Production and Area Harvested for the period 1961-95 are shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Potatoes are grown throughout the Republic of Korea. Despite high local topographic and micro-climatic variability, it is possible to identify three more or less distinct geographical zones of potato production. The northeastern alpine areas, chiefly in Kangweon Province, account for 20-30 per cent of total production and 20 per cent of the area under potatoes (Horton, et.al. 1987). Elevations are typically 600-1,000 m.a.s.l. (Anonymous, 1978). Mean annual precipitation is around 1400 mm, roughly 85 per cent of which falls from April through November (Ryong, 1985). Mean monthly minimum temperatures range from less than -10 degrees C in January/February to about 20 degrees C in August. Monthly maximum temperatures average between -2 degrees C in January/February and 25 degrees C in August (Kim, 1981).
The southern coastal zones consist chiefly of the coastal areas of Chonnam and Kyonganam Provinces and the island province of Cheju. These areas account for roughly 10 per cent of the country's area under potatoes and 7 per cent of production. Mean annual precipitation is around 1,500 mm. Rainfall distribution is similar to the alpine areas, peaking in June and July (Ryong, 1985). Mean monthly minimum temperatures range from -2 degrees C in January/February to about 20 degrees C in August, and maximum of 6-7 degrees C in January/February and over 25 degrees C in August (Kim, 1981). Temperatures on Cheju are generally higher than those on the southern mainland throughout the year (Anonymous, 1978; Horton, et.al. 1987).
The third and largest production zone, the mid-northern areas, consists of most of the rest of South Korea. Rainfed uplands in these areas account for nearly 60 per cent of total area and about half of national production. An additional 13 per cent of total area and 11 per cent of production is represented by paddy fields in which potatoes are planted prior to rice (Horton, et.al. 1987). Mean annual precipitation is around 1,300 mm, roughly 85 per cent of which falls from April through November (Ryong, 1985). Mean monthly minimum temperatures range from -10 degrees C in January/February to about 20 degrees C in August. Monthly maximum temperatures average between 2 degrees C in January/February and 30 degrees C in August (Kim, 1981).
A map of major potato production zones in South Korea is found in Figure 3.
Production-
Seasons
More than 60 per cent of national production is grown during the spring season in the mid-northern areas. About 80 per cent of the spring crop is planted on rainfed hill sides. Planting is done generally in late March or April, with harvest in late June and July. The spring season for potatoes on paddy fields is generally earlier and shorter, partly because of somewhat warmer temperatures, but mainly because of the need to harvest potatoes in time to plant rice in June. Potatoes are planted in February and March and harvested in early to mid-June (Horton, et.al. 1987; Kim, 1981).
In the northeastern alpine zone, spring and fall frosts confine potato cultivation to the summer and preclude multiple cropping. Planting takes place in May with harvest in September (Horton, et.al. 1987; Kim, 1981). In the southern portions of the mainland, potatoes are grown in the autumn after harvesting spring vegetables or maize. Planting occurs in August with harvest in November. On the island of Cheju, the warmer climate permits potato cultivation in the winter. Potatoes are planted in January and harvested in April. Though representing only 5 per cent and 3 per cent of annual production, respectively, the fall and winter crops are economically important as source of ware potatoes at times of highest prices (Horton, et.al. 1987).
Seed sources and VarietiesThe need for a reliable supply of high quality planting material is perhaps the greatest single constraint to South Korean potato production. Although some private firms attempted to import seed potatoes from Japan in the 1950's, the government has discouraged the practice. Virtually all planting material is of domestic origin. The first formal seed multiplication and certification program, established in 1961, collapsed due to inadequate inspection and protection from viral diseases. This affected the availability and quality of certified seed while destroying farmer confidence in the program (Horton, et.al. 1987).
The present seed certification system was established in 1979. The produced approximately 6,000 tons of certified seed in 1985, about 16 per cent of the total seed requirements. The Alpine Experimental Station (AES) at Taekwanryong, Kangweon Province, is responsible for the 5,000 tons of seed potatoes certified for the spring crop (Horton, et.al. 1987). About 55 per cent of South Korea's seed potato requirement is met with purchased, uncertified seed. Most of this is produced in the northeast alpine areas from increasingly high quality planting material. The remaining 29 per cent of South Korea's seed requirement is met by farmer's own seed.
Despite varietal trials and an incipient breeding program, only three varieties are widely grown. Irish Cobbler, introduced from Japan in the 1930's, remains the most widely planted variety. In the mid-1970's it accounted for about 80 per cent of the area under potatoes (Young-II, 1974). It produces medium-sized, round tubers with light-yellow skin (Ryong, 1985). Partly because of its susceptibility to virus infection, the dominance of Irish Cobbler is increasingly challenged by a variety, Superior. Up to 1981 Irish Cobbler was the only variety available as certified seed. Since then, the relative proportion of variety Superior in the formal seed system has increased steadily. In 1985 the system produced 4,157 tons of certified "Superior" seed tubers compared to 662 tons of Irish Cobbler (Horton, et.al. 1987)
Because of their relatively long dormancy, Irish Cobbler and Superior are more or less restricted to the spring and summer seasons. Dejima, with a dormancy of only 60 days is the major variety for the fall and winter crops (Horton, et.al. 1987). Shimbara is also grown in the fall and winter, though it is not as widespread (Ryong, 1985).
Production PracticesThe average farm size is about one hectare. Roughly 95 per cent of all farms are less then two hectare size, and 66 per cent are less than one hectare. Due to industrialization, the share of national work force in agriculture fell down from 47 per cent (1970) to 19 per cent (1988), and the cost of labor went up by 10 per cent annually.
There is little detailed information available on potato production practices on Korean farms. Cutting of seed tubers appears common, and seed pieces are treated with mercury solution (Kim, 1977). In the wet rice areas, the pieces are planted in polyethylene-covered seed beds 2-3 weeks before transplanting in the paddy fields (Kim, 1977). Overall seed rates are 1.2 to 1.5 tons per hectare (Horton, et.al. 1987). Plants are generally spaced 25-30 cm apart, with 70-75 cm row space (Shin, 1977). Fertilizer use is widespread. On average, fertilizer costs of contract seed farmers are about the double of those ware producers. Similarly seed farmers spend more than seven times as much on herbicides and pesticides as do producers of table potatoes (Horton, et.al. 1987). Recommended fertilizer doses for the spring crop are 150 Kg of Nitrogen, 150 Kg of Phosphorous, and 120 Kg of Potash per hectare (Shin, 1978).
Diseases and Pests
Virus diseases, notably leafroll (PLRV) and PVY, PVX, PVM and PVS, affect potatoes throughout the country, as do such bacterial diseases as brown rot (Pseudomonas solanacearum), black leg (Erwinia spp.), and soft rot (Erwinia spp.). Ring rot (Corynebacterium sepedonicum) infected about 33 per cent of a seed potato crop, but has since been controlled by inspection and disinfection of seed and cutting knives with mercury. Late blight (Phytopthora infestans) is a recurring problem at high elevations, as is early blight (Alternaria solani) in the lowlands. Spot beetles, armyworms, cutworms, wireworms, and virus-transmitting aphids are major insect pests (Ryong, 1985).
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Storage
Seed for the spring crop is either produced during the alpine summer season or held over from the previous local harvest. Seed from the alpine areas, harvested in September for planting in March or April presents no real storage problem as temperatures are cool even at lower elevations. Local seed, especially in the paddy areas, must be stored for up to eight months, including the hottest parts of the year (Young-II, 1974). The problem is compounded by the fact that those farmers using their own seed, rather than purchased, appear least likely to have access to cold storage facilities.
Improving storage practices for ware potatoes has substantial potential for increasing incomes of farmers growing potatoes in the spring season. This crop represents about 60 per cent of the annual production, and it is more or less simultaneous release on the market generally suppresses prices. Meanwhile, expansion of the fall and winter crops is constrained by the relatively small area with appropriate climatic conditions. Insulated storage buildings with forced air ventilation have been designed for Korean conditions, but their adoption is limited (Ko, 1982).
In the early 1970's South Korea developed a significant potato processing industry. By 1976, thirteen factories produced 7,000 tons of potato starch annually for the noodle, textile, and paper industries. With the collapse of the seed program and potato production in 1978, South Korean potato starch became less and less competetive. Presently only a single factory operates at low capacity. Meanwhile the industrial demand for potato starch is met with imports, chiefly from the Netherlands. From 1983 to 1986, starch imports rose from 5,000 to 17,000 tons. Imported starch represents the equivalent of 150,000 to 200,000 tons of fresh potatoes. Presently, high cost of production, particularly for seed, hamper Korean farmers from meeting the domestic demand (Horton, et.al. 1987).
Distribution, Consumption and MarketingOf 441,000 tons of potatoes grown in the Republic of Korea in 1984, 58 per cent were utilized for human consumption, 24 per cent as animal feed, 7 per cent as seed, and 1 per cent were processed. The remaining 10 per cent were lost to pests or spoilage (FAO, 1986). Although potatoes remain an important garden vegetable for local consumption, subsistence production has fallen during the transition from agricultural to a predominant industrial economy. Instead of a few potatoes grown in a backyard garden, urban consumers increasingly purchase potatoes and other vegetables grown on specialized commercial farms and delivered through complex marketing channels. Potato production throughout the year in different parts of the country and vastly improved transportation infrastructure have furthered this trend (Horton, et.al. 1987).
Per capita consumption of potatoes in South Korea for 1984 was 6 Kg (FAO, 1986). Potatoes are typically boiled or fried and served hot, cold, and in soups and stews. Western style restaurants routinely serve baked and French fried potatoes. Several fast food chains have opened restaurants in Seoul recently. One problem they face is that local potatoes are not well suited to mass production of frozen French fries. Despite an aversion to potatoes among older people who associate them with hard times during and after the Second World War, consumption of potatoes is presently limited primarily by supply and production factors (Horton, et.al. 1987)