What was a significant crop first cultivated by the Inca?

The significant crop first cultivated by the Inca was potatoes. Potatoes are native to the Andean region of South America, where the Inca civilization flourished. They cultivated various varieties of potatoes and developed sophisticated agricultural techniques to grow them in the challenging high-altitude environments. The importance of the potato in Inca society cannot be overstated, as it became a staple food that provided essential nutrition and supported the population.

In contrast, rice is primarily associated with Asian agricultural practices; wheat is a staple grain more commonly related to the Near East and Europe; and corn, while important in Mesoamerica, was not initially cultivated by the Inca. Each of these crops has distinct origins and agricultural histories that separate them from the Inca's primary cultivation focus on potatoes.