International Day of Potato 2026: FAO highlights potatoes as a driver of resilient livelihoods and agrifood systems

Maseru, Lesotho – Potatoes are becoming increasingly important as countries face rising shocks to agrifood systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Director-General QU Dongyu said today during the main global observance of the International Day of Potato 2026, hosted by the Kingdom of Lesotho. 

Speaking in a video message to the event, QU said potatoes were “one of agriculture’s success stories,” helping to feed more than one billion people while supporting farmers, rural livelihoods and more resilient agrifood systems worldwide. 

“Potatoes are grown across diverse landscapes and farming systems, from mountain regions to lowland areas, and are becoming increasingly important in a world facing rising production costs, weather extremes and growing food insecurity,” the Director-General said. 

He stressed the need to improve potato farmers’ access to quality seeds, climate-adapted varieties, agronomic training and innovative technologies to boost productivity while reducing environmental impacts. 

Holding the global observance in Lesotho highlighted the country’s growing role in potato production and value chain development in Africa. Lesotho’s high-altitude climate provides favourable conditions for potato production. 

“I am especially pleased that this year’s celebration is taking place in Lesotho – a country with strong agricultural traditions and a clear commitment to strengthening agrifood systems and supporting rural communities,” QU said. 

Speaking at the event in Maseru, the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition in Lesotho, Mr Selibe Mochoboroane said Lesotho planned to increase potato production by 10 percent annually to meet the growing local demand. “National demand for potato is at 122,000 metric tonnes while current production is at 13,000 metric tonnes,” he said. 

Lesotho, alongside Botswana, Eritrea and Peru, selected potato as its Special Agricultural Product under FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, which supports countries to develop sustainable value chains. Through the initiative, FAO has been working with the Government of Lesotho and the Potato Lesotho Association to strengthen potato production, improve access to quality seeds and technologies, expand market opportunities and support farmers in moving from subsistence production towards commercial farming. 

Early results have been encouraging, with expanded potato-growing areas, improved yields and increased production. More than 60 percent of farmers supported under the OCOP initiative are women, while training and market access initiatives are helping farmers build more profitable and resilient businesses. 

Through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, China and Peru have supported Lesotho in knowledge exchange, technology transfer and practical solutions for potato development. FAO and the World Trade Organization also actively promote regional cooperation to manage pests and diseases which may threaten potato productivity in 12 African countries (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). 

Celebrating the potato around the world 

Observed under the theme “Where potatoes grow, livelihoods flourish,” this year’s observance highlighted the role of potatoes in supporting food security, nutrition, climate resilience and economic opportunity across agrifood systems worldwide. 

Alongside the global event in Lesotho, complementary celebrations were held at FAO headquarters in Rome, including a cooking demonstration hosted in collaboration with the Permanent Representations of Peru and Spain showcasing potato-based dishes from different culinary traditions. An exhibition tracing the history, biodiversity and global cultural significance of potatoes was also opened at the FAO Museum and Network. 

The International Day of Potato was established by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023, recognizing the crop’s contribution to food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods globally.