>>1,7Mass debility caused by chronic solanine(potato is member of nightshades) exposure.
Potatoes are toxic, filled with carbs(obesity/diabetes) and on top of that they easily fall prey to rot and bacteria.
Potato agriculture is remarkably easy: just put the spuds in the ground. Potato famine is engineered condition by exclusion of all other agriculture, when your country is in some sort of survival mode.
Communism, mass poverty and potatoes are integral parts of Russian culture .