The Dhaka Times Desk As the prices of potatoes have fallen, government initiatives are finally being taken to care for the farmers. Bangladesh is going to export potatoes to Russia for the first time.
It is known that the first shipment of 20,000 tons of potatoes will go to Russia this week. In the current situation, initiatives have been taken to export potatoes to Europe, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka to prevent the fall in potato prices.
It is expected that 20 to 25 lakh tons of potatoes will be exported this season. Last year, potatoes were exported at $220 to $280 per ton. Potato exporting countries India, Egypt and Pakistan expect potato prices to be slightly higher in the international market due to low yield this season.
Related traders. The government has already announced the continuation of 20 percent export support to encourage potato exports so that farmers get a fair price for potatoes.
The potato farmers of the country have faced huge losses in the hope of profit this year. Potatoes are currently being sold at one and a half taka per kg in potato production areas. Due to the low price of potatoes in some areas, it is not possible to raise potatoes with wages. The Ministry of Agriculture is also worried about the continued fall in the price of potatoes. And so on Thursday, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury held a meeting in his ministry to decide what to do about the fall in potato prices. In the meeting, it was suggested to sit with potato exporters and various chips companies to supervise and discuss with the concerned about purchasing potatoes from the market now.
It is known that a company called Agriconcern has taken the initiative to export potatoes to Russia. Managing Director of the organization. Sheikh Abdul Qadir told the media, 'We have started the process of exporting about 20 thousand tons of potatoes. We hope that Bangladesh will export potatoes to the markets of Russia and Europe this time.'
It is known that the price of potatoes in Egypt is sky high. But as the situation there is not favorable, it is not possible to export. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is at the top for potato exports this year. In the meantime, several countries including Sri Lanka have expressed interest in importing potatoes from Bangladesh. In 1999, the first export of potatoes from Bangladesh started.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China is the world's largest producer of potatoes. China produces about 1.35 million tons of potatoes annually. Bangladesh is in the second position in terms of potato production.
It is to be noted that this year bumper crop of potato has been produced in Munshiganj, Narsingdi, Naogaon, Natore, Dinajpur, Jaipurhat, Badarganj of Rangpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Jessore, Bogra, Pirganj of Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat districts of Bangladesh. According to the information of the Department of Agriculture Extension, it is expected to produce more than one crore tonnes of potatoes on five lakh hectares of land this year. However, due to the fall in prices in most places, farmers have become independent by cultivating potatoes.
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