Potato exports fall sharply

Country's potato exports have marked a significant fall in recent years despite a production surplus of the vegetable, sector insiders have said. They have attributed an inadequate supply of exportable potato for shipment to such a fall in its export. Exporters made shipment of potato worth US$ 33.82 million in the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14 while US$ 32.22 million in FY '15, US$ 10.07 million in FY '16 and US$ 12 million in FY '17, according to the Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association (BPEA). Potato export declined by around 69 per cent in FY '16 than that of FY '15, according to BPEA figure. "As there is no main variety of potato in the country, so we are lagging behind international competitiveness. It is very difficult for us to trade without such variety," BPEA president Dr Shaikh Abdul Quader told the FE. "We need market diversification to raise the export volume of potato. There is a huge potential market of the perishable item in Africa and Vietnam," he added. But no move has been taken to create any exportable variety of potato despite having a big demand for the country's potato, he said. Potato exports have declined in the recent years mainly due to an embargo imposed by Russian Federation and lack of new markets, a BPEA source said. Now the export market of the essential item has been squeezing for lack of suitable varieties of potato, he said. As the size of granola potato is round, the importers do not show interest for its shipment. — FE Report