Bangladesh produces a record 8.6 million tons of potatoes in FY 2013

Potato production in Bangladesh in fiscal year (FY) 2012-13 hit a new record of 8.603 million tonnes surpassing the past record of 8.38 million tonnes in FY'11.

The production witnessed a negative growth in FY'12 when it plunged to 8.205 million tonnes--- a 2.08 per cent fall compared to that of FY'11.

The government statistics provider Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in its latest release said potato, the most consumed vegetable item of the country was cultivated on 0.444 million hectares of land in FY'13.

The acreage had increased by 14,000 hectares compared to that of FY'12 which also helped achieve a higher output. Potato was produced on 4.6 million hectares in FY'11.

Bidhan Baral, deputy director at BBS told the FE that per hectare yield has been increasing gradually in the country which is very positive for the production scenario.

"In FY'11, per hectare yield was 18.21 tonnes which reached 19.07 tonnes in FY'12 and hit a new record of 19.307 tonnes in fiscal year'13,"he said.

"Using balanced fertiliser, modern seed varieties, integrated pest management and a sound weather during the growing stage helped get a record crop,"he said.

Directorate General of Food (DGoF) officials said annual demand for the carbohydrate-rich vegetable has now stood at 6.5 to 7.0 million tonnes.

That indicates a 1.5m to 2.0m tonnes are surplus production.

Experts expressed their opinion that the production may further increase in the current fiscal year (FY'14) as farmers got profitable price for their produce last season.

"Ensuring lucrative price for farmers and boosting export after meeting local demand could help maintain the firm growth of the produce", Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University A S M Golam Hafeez Kennedy said.

He said the higher price tag during the harvesting season last year will definitely encourage farmers to increase production this year.

"The government should ensure profitable price for the farmers to maintain the firm growth in coming years,"he commented.

He said export should be encouraged to use the additional volume of production.

He also suggested providing credit to the farmers to introduce community-based small cold storages so that peasants can preserve potatoes and sell the same at a favourable time.

However, the farmers got Tk 5.5 to Tk 6.5 per kg during harvesting season in FY'13 which was only Tk 1.5-Tk 2.0 during FY'11 and FY'12, Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) data showed.

Production cost was between Tk 4 and Tk 5.5 per kg across the country, according to DAM.

The price of potato, mainly granola variety is now sold at Tk 13-Tk 18 at the country's retail market.

The price of per kg potato is 30-35 per cent lower now compared to the corresponding period of last year, according to DAM.

The Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) said the country has a storage capacity of 4.2 million tonnes of potato in 382 cold storages, which is less than half in terms of the total production.

Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) president Md Jasim Uddin told the FE that a huge amount of potato is still lying unsold in cold storages which is alarming.

He said the government should provide potatoes along with rice and wheat through relief, rationing, VGF (Vulnerable Group Feeding)-VGD (Vulnerable Group Development) programmes and Open Market Sale (OMS) to benefit the farmers.

Source: The Financial Express