Potato export ushers in new hope for N-region farmers

RANGPUR, Apr 16 (BSS): Export of granular variety potatoes has been increasing faster ushering in a new hope for the farmers and prospective horizon to overall agro-economy in the northern region. Further patronisation from both government and non-government sectors through extending more assistances and resolving some problems could accelerate export of enormous quantities of the quality potatoes being produced in the region. Potato traders, exporters, chamber leaders and bigger potato growers today told the news agency that huge quantities of granular variety quality potatoes are being exported to Singapore, Malaysian and Saudi Arabia now. Besides, there are tremendous prospects of exporting potatoes to most of the African countries, Europe and the far eastern countries through exploring the huge potato demands prevailing in those countries, they said. During the current season, over 1.5 million tonnes potatoes have already been exported to Singapore, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia till March 31 last and more 2 million tonnes potato will be exported to these three countries within the next two months. The foreign potato companies have been using the exported potato from Bangladesh in preparing different potato chips and dozens of other foodstuffs and earning huge profits by marketing those both at their homes and abroad, the exporters said. The expanding potato export has brought smiles to the farmers, especially at this moment, when they have produced an all-time record potato and are facing untold sufferings in preserving those amid lower market prices. Bigger potato farmers Abdus Salam, Dinesh Chandra and Safir Uddin told the news agency that the common framers would get the real benefits within the next few years if the export continues expanding side-by-side setting up of agro-based industries in the region.