The authorities concerned have directed to distribute potatoes along with rice, wheat, flour and other items in the relief activities across the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture has written to three concerned organizations to distribute potatoes in relief activities to ensure proper and versatile use of surplus potatoes.
Three separate letters have been sent to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, the Bureau of NGO Affairs and the Commissioner for Refugee Relief and Repatriation to confirm the matter.
This information has been given in a notification signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Nasima Khanam on Sunday. It has been said that, “Potato production in the country is gradually increasing. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potato production in the fiscal year 2020-21 was 113.71 lakh tonnes. At present there are adequate stocks of potatoes. Proper and versatile use of produced potatoes needs to be ensured. For this, in response to various natural calamities, rice, wheat, flour and other relief items as well as potatoes can be distributed among the extremely poor.”
"On the one hand, it will increase the diversified use of potatoes, on the other hand, it will meet the demand for potatoes at the consumer level and ensure the marketing of farmers' produce", it said.
As there is sufficient stock of potatoes in the country, it has been requested to take necessary steps to include potatoes in the list of distribution of rice, wheat, flour and other relief items in the relief activities, the press release said.
On August, a delegation of FBCCI and Bangladesh Cold Storage Association met agriculture minister Md. Abdur Razzque at his secretariat office and requested him to distribute potatoes in various government programs including relief.