Potato exports rise, but farmers struggle as prices plunge

Bangladesh's potato exports are rising, but farmers continue to face losses as domestic prices remain at historic lows.
According to the Plant Quarantine Wing under the agriculture ministry, exports reached 45,400 tonnes during the July-March period of the current fiscal year (FY26), up from 34,600 tonnes in the same period last fiscal year.
The country exported a total of 62,500 tonnes of potatoes in FY2025, compared to just 12,300 tonnes in FY2024.
Deputy Director of the Plant Quarantine Wing AKM Mafidul Islam told The Financial Express that the April-June period is crucial for potato exports, and shipments this year could surpass the previous record of 0.1 million tonnes, driven by strong demand from Vietnam.
He said the quarantine process has been modernised and simplified, encouraging more exporters.
"We have worked hard to get Vietnam to accept Bangladeshi potatoes," he said. "Exports may surpass last year's 62,000 tonnes and could even set a new record."
However, the domestic market has seen little benefit from the export growth. Farm-gate prices have fallen to Tk 6.0-8.0 per kg, the lowest level in a decade, according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing.
In Dhaka, potatoes are selling at Tk 18-20 per kg, a six-year low, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.
Orun Kumar Ray, a farmer in Khansama of Dinajpur, said production costs have surged due to higher fertiliser and irrigation expenses, while prices have dropped further following last year's losses.
"The production cost in my area is at least Tk 15 per kg, while the maximum selling price is only Tk 8.0 per kg," he said.
"Big farmers who can store potatoes in cold storage may still earn some profit if prices rise in the coming months."
Dr Dilshad Zahan Ethen, head of the agribusiness and marketing department at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), said the rise in exports is encouraging, especially with around one million tonnes of surplus potatoes available.
She said opening Eastern European markets could further boost shipments.
"But farmers need access to cold storage at the union level to preserve part of their produce," she said.
She urged the government to develop community-based cold storage facilities to strengthen farmers' bargaining power.
She also suggested that the government procure potatoes for its food rationing programme, similar to rice, to help stabilise prices.
"The peasantry has faced losses for two consecutive years," she warned, "which could discourage potato farming in the next season."
Potato production hit an all-time high of 11.57 million tonnes in FY25, and the government expects output to reach around 12 million tonnes in FY26 due to favourable weather.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com