A global geo-referenced database of potato distribution for 1995-1997 (GPOT97).

This document describes a global geo-referenced database of the distribution of the potato crop for the 1995 - 1997 period. The database has been generated to improve the analysis of global potato production, for CIP research priority setting, and as a general reference to global potato production at the end of the 20th century. Maps of global potato production did exist, and some have been reproduced in this document. However, these maps are generally out-dated, and are not available as a database in a digital format, impeding their use in further analysis. The database described in this document is a compilation from different sources on potato production areas, varying in spatial and temporal accuracy an detail. The most important sources used are data from several national statistical organizations, and maps drawn by Rhoades (1987), notably for minor potato-producing countries in Africa and Asia. However, for a number of countries, notably in eastern Europe, older maps were used to estimate within-country potato distribution. For all countries with more than 500 ha of potato, according to FAO, a map of the relative within-country distribution of the potato area was made, using either administrative boundaries, boundaries from other maps indicating potato production zones, or using a combination of both. For each zone, the fraction of the national potato area in that zone was estimated, using within-country statistical data where available. To create a database representative for the 1995 - 1997 period, the data was homogenized. The fraction of the national potato area in each zone was multiplied with the average potato area for 1995 - 1997, as estimated by FAO.