The cold storages across the country now have stocked 5.5 million tonnes of potatoes, thanks to various reasons including restrictions on movement and a declining demand. Potatoes are not being unloaded from the cold storages as the market price of the product is lower. In this situation, Bangladesh Cold Storage Association fears that 2 million tonnes of potatoes will be wasted this year. Meanwhile, the new season for planting potatoes has arrived. But if this huge quantity of potatoes cannot be sold now, it will become unsuitable for food. As a result, traders and farmers will be affected. To improve the situation, steps should be taken to quickly sell the potatoes stored in the cold storages. The work can be done through the government agency – Trading Corporation of Bangladesh, Ministry of Commerce, and Ministry of Agriculture.
There has been a silent revolution in potato production in Bangladesh. Production has increased by 26 times while the per capita consumption of potatoes has increased by 10 times. Due to the hard work of potato growers, agronomists and the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, great progress has been made in its production. But the concern is that, despite the increase in production, its marketing, use, consumption and exports have not increased at an expected level. Processing industries have not developed too. However, experts are blaming the weakness of the government’s policy and bureaucratic complexities for this. At this stage, the focus should be put on exports.
In order to increase exports, laboratories need to be set up to ensure the expansion and quality of improved varieties of potatoes. Research for improved seeds also needs to be intensified. At the same time, processing industries must be built. It is necessary to increase the use, consumption and diversification of potatoes in line with the increase in production. All these are a long-term solution. In the short term, the government has to buy potatoes stored in the cold storage and distribute them quickly.
Due to the increase in both demand and production of the item, potato processing factories have been set up in the country, and produced chips and French fries are being exported to about 30 countries including Vietnam, Russia, Qatar, Malaysia and Singapore. Some companies in the Netherlands have planned to form potato clusters to revolutionise potato production by applying advanced techniques. In this progress of potato production, the Netherlands can be one of the partners for Bangladesh which is lagging behind in quality and processing of potatoes. Thailand is making high quality chips with Bangladeshi potatoes and selling them again in Bangladesh at several times higher prices. The examples of Malaysia and Dubai can also be considered in this case. More income can be generated by setting up high quality chips factories in the country. As a result, farmers will also get higher prices for potatoes.
Cold storage owners have long been talking about government initiatives to increase the various uses of potatoes. But there is not much initiative on the part of the government. A person needs to consume 100 grams of potatoes daily. However, the per capita consumption of potato in the country is 75 grams. Campaigns can be intensified to increase this consumption. Potatoes can be procured through the Trading Corporation ofBangladesh and sold in the open market, along with other products. It can also be added to the government’s “Food For Work” programme. Besides, unsold potatoes in cold storages can be used as a relief food item. Potatoes can be given as relief for Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh. According to the analysis of various data, the financial value of the amount of potatoes in all the cold storages in the country is several hundred crore taka. On the other hand, potato exports have become unprofitable and risky due to lack of air-conditioned transport by exporters. Adding potatoes to the relief programme and the ration of different forces and agencies of the government will create a huge sector for selling potatoes. It is time to popularise various uses of potato as an alternative to rice.
