The government will set up a potato centre in the country with state-of-the-art facilities for boosting export of the produce.
"The government will set up an international standard potato centre in the country for proper preservation, development and boosting export of potato," a high official of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) told the FE.
Apart from setting up the potato centre, the government will also strengthen laboratory facilities for exporting disease-free potato.
He also said a three-member delegation of the International Potato Centre (CIP) met Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque last week.
The CIP, based in Lima, Peru, was founded in 1971. It has research presence in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America with a special focus on potato, sweet potato and Andean roots and tubers.
In the meeting, the agriculture minister sought technical assistance from the CIP for setting up the potato centre.
The minister told the delegation that the government will provide necessary land for setting up the centre to help develop varieties of potato.
Regional coordinator of the CIP Dr U S Singh offered cooperation from the organisation for setting up the potato centre in Bangladesh.
The delegation also assured the government of extending their cooperation for developing potato varieties here and enhancing its export.
Bangladesh produced over 10 million tonnes of potato last year against the annual demand of around seven million tonnes, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DoAE).
Despite huge export potentials, the country could not grab the opportunity due to lack of proper storage facilities. As a result, the famers are being compelled to sell their produce at through away prices, according to the sector insiders.
The MoA official said the government has formed a seven-member committee to explore new markets for boosting potato export.
Bangladesh exported about 53,485 tonnes of potato in 2017-18 fiscal year, according to DoAE.
The country exports potatoes to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Qatar, Bahrain, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Kuwait, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Benin and Singapore.
Russia and the European Union can be potential markets for shipment of Bangladeshi potato, as Russia alone has a demand for 26 million tonnes of the crop annually.
Bangladesh earlier exported more than 20,000 tonnes of potato to Russia. But the Eurasian country has stopped importing potato from Bangladesh since 2015.
Moscow suggested Dhaka to upgrade its phytosanitary system, and take proper security measures to stop use of fake phytosanitary certificates.
Russia also recommended maintaining proper inspection procedure at ports to ensure shipment of safe agricultural produce.
Bangladesh produces a huge quantity of potato every year. The country witnessed a gradual increase in potato production by three million tonnes over the last few years.
The country could grow potato of better quality through applying good practices in farming. Besides, it can export a significant quantity of potato chips, if proper initiatives are taken, added the sector insiders.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com