Govt takes measures to boost potato export
The tuber crop declared non-notified farm item to ease import process of developed seeds
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The government has declared potato a 'non-notified' farm produce aiming to ease import process of developed seeds to boost exports of the tuber crop, said officials.
The decision was taken as per the requests from the exporters and industries to import quality and modern potato seeds from the global market with the view to easily competing with the countries like Pakistan and India.
Bangladesh produces in excess of 10 million (1.0 crore) tonnes of potato annually with 3.0 million (30 lakh) tonnes in exportable surpluses, said Agriculture Minister Dr Mohammad Abdur Razzaque.
The minister said, "Farmers incur huge losses every year by growing potatoes amid a decline in prices during harvesting season."
Experts said for some years now, good harvest of potatoes has turned out to be the misery of the farmers.
Abdur Razzaque said exports and use of potato in factories for chips and other items could be the best ways to ensure profits for growers of the tuber crop.
Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association President Dr Abdul Kader said the decision taken by the government will be very fruitful for the potato sector.
"We have just one or two varieties (of potato) including diamond variety in our hands to export, he mentioned.
There is a huge demand for 'long shape' potato in the world but the farmers usually produce 'round shape' potato like granola, he noted.
He said earlier it took four to five years to release a new variety when other countries in the world introduce varieties every year.
"Now we can introduce modern exportable varieties very shortly which could help rise exports of potato," he added.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh needs 1.5 to 2.0 million tonnes of seed potato annually for 0.46 million hectares of land dedicated for growing potato.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data showed the country exported the highest-ever US $ 35 million worth potato in financial year 2013-14 (FY '14).
After the year, potato production has gradually been declining mainly due to a ban on import on Bangladeshi potato by Russian Federation for quarantine issues.
Potato export was worth only $ 11 million in fiscal year 2017-18, the EPB said.
A target has been set to produce 15 million (1.5 crore) tonnes of the yellow root tuber in this (2019-20) fiscal year, officials said.