Bangladesh company to export 20,000 tons of potatoes in 2017
The first consignment of 52 tonnes of potatoes was sent to Malaysia on February 9 through Chittagong port, said a press release today.
The potatoes are grown by PRAN’s contract farmers. Now, PRAN has around 2000 farmers who cultivate potatoes in Dinajpur, Rangpur, Joypurhat, Kurigram and Thakurgaon districts.
Abdul Majid, a contract farmer from Biral upazila under Dinajpur district said, “I have been cultivating potato for PRAN for two years as it is more profitable. Last year I cultivated potatoes on three acres of land and this year I'm cultivating potatoes on four acres of land.”
PRAN provides quality seeds and fertilizer at a low cost to the farmers to grow quality potatoes.
"PRAN exports quality potatoes as we give training, technical support and modern varieties to contract farmers. Farmers are benefiting as we purchase potatoes at a fair price," said Mahatab Uddin, chief operating officer at PRAN Agro Business Ltd. "We offer a buy-back guarantee to the farmers so that they feel encouraged to grow potatoes," he said, adding that collection and packaging of the potatoes is done according to International standards.
“PRAN started exporting potatoes last year on a limited scale. We earned good feedback from the international market. As a result, we are planning to export potatoes to new markets including Indonesia, Singapore, Qatar, Japan and Sri Lanka,” said Kamruzzaman Kamal, director marketing at PRAN-RFL Group.
source: businessnews24bd.com
