Potato Export

Bangladesh has regularly exported potatoes to several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Myanmar, the Philippines, Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. However, potato exports in FY 2022-23 stood at only 28,570 tonnes, compared to 80,440 tonnes in the previous fiscal year.

Last year, Bangladesh produced 11 million tonnes – making it the third largest producer in Asia, after China and India – of which it exported nearly 0.8 million tonnes. More than a third of potato exports went to Malaysia, a fourth went to Nepal and a fifth went to Sri Lanka.

Other countries that imported potatoes from Bangladesh included Myanmar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan and Lebanon. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture are looking to start exports to Russia, Fiji and Vietnam.

Potatoes are an important cash crop with the potential to transform the lives of those who produce them. For the last four years, potato producer organisations in Rangpur have been producing export-quality potatoes by employing ‘good agricultural practices’ – a collection of principles for safe and healthy farming and processing – with training from FAO.

Rangpur produces a quarter of the nation’s potatoes. One of the best performing districts for export-quality potato production was Thakurgaon Sadar. This year, potato growers are expecting a good harvest and they already have a contract with the Bangladesh Potato Exporters’ Association (BPEA).

Farmers started to grow a new potato variety called ‘Sunshine’, intended specifically for export. It is quick-growing and achieves high yields.

Together, they worked with the Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), and BPEA.

The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), and BADC have been supporting potato producers to increase exports since 2019.

‘FAO is working with the government to increase exports of key crops, including potatoes, as part of a long-term vision to transform the country’s agriculture sector. With the right support, Bangladeshi potato producers are able to meet growing international demand in a competitive market. This is a successful model for other crops,’ he said.

‘But we also need to consider other potato varieties and invest in processing – this will keep value addition in Bangladesh and meet growing national demand for potato-based products such as chips.’

A business session was held at a potato farmer’s field with participants from FAO, government, potato producer organisations, and farmers.

At a side event, farmers displayed local and improved varieties of potatoes. There was also a meeting with regional agricultural extension officers and research agencies.