All kinds of cooperation will be provided to increase potato exports as it is a very promising crop in the country.
Agriculture Minister Md. Abdur Razzque made this comment while exchanging views with a delegation of Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association (BPEA) at his Secretariat office in the capital on Thursday.
He said, “Climate and soil are favorable for potato cultivation. If we can increase the market and demand for potatoes, it is possible to increase the production several fold. That is why we are working to expand the potato market abroad. A draft roadmap has already been prepared to increase potato exports. In addition, work is underway to address the existing problems in the field of exports.”
“The country currently produces more than 10 million tonnes of potatoes a year. Lack of good varieties of potatoes has been a major obstacle to potato exports so far. Many improved varieties have already been brought from abroad. In addition, the release of potato varieties used to require registration, but we have made it open (non-notified). As a result, the private sector has also come up with some improved varieties. Good results have been obtained in the field including the capacity, productivity and quality of these varieties. Work is underway to rapidly expand these exportable varieties at the field level and popularize them to the farmers,” he added.
Director General of Agriculture Marketing Department Mohammad Yusuf, BPEA President Sheikh Abdul Quader, Member Secretary Zakir Hossain, Organizing Secretary Kazi Mahabub Morshed, Executive Members Sufian Ahmed, Ziaul Haque, Rashed Ahmed and others were present.
The delegation put forward some proposals to increase potato exports. Rapid expansion and popularization of exportable varieties to farmers, financial assistance to the association for research, proper implementation of roadmap prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, construction of infrastructure including plug-in centers to maintain cool chain in potato transport, use of containers outside customs houses, testing of containers, phytosanitary testing system at loading points, expeditious initiatives for re-export of potatoes to Russia, Indonesia and Vietnam, exploration of new markets they demanded.
The minister said that immediate steps would be taken in this regard.
