Potato exports from Bangladesh are witnessing a resurgence following an unusual downturn in the last fiscal year. A decrease in domestic prices is fostering optimism for reaching export levels seen in previous years. Over the past nine years since FY16, average annual exports have hovered around 50,000 tons, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). However, the last fiscal year saw a decline to 12,112 tons.
In the first seven months of the current fiscal year, exports have already reached 11,055 tons. Key destinations include Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Oman, Canada, and the Maldives.
Farmers in major potato-growing regions such as Rangpur, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Bogura, and Joypurhat are experiencing relief as exports rise. The vegetable is selling at approximately $0.10 per kilogram, while production costs are around $0.14 per kilogram. Cultivation expanded to 5.24 lakh hectares this fiscal year, a 15% increase year-on-year, driven by prices reaching up to $0.75 per kilogram last November.
Projected production for this fiscal year is 1.20 crore tons, according to the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, while the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estimates 1.06 crore tons. Last fiscal year, production was 1.09 crore tons, surpassing the annual demand of about 9,000,000 tons.
Farmers like Abdul Baset from Joypurhat, who exported over 650 tons, find exports a way to recoup costs. Exporter Rashed Shamim Chowdhury aims to increase shipments to 3,000 tons this fiscal year, up from 600 tons last year. Similarly, exporter Nazim Uddin plans to dispatch 50 containers, each holding 25,000 kg, compared to seven containers last year.
The government is exploring support for farmers through storage and export initiatives, according to Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture. Syed Md Rafiqul Amin from the Hortex Foundation noted efforts to link farmers with exporters, receiving positive responses from both parties.
Source: The Daily Star