The export basket now has a new item -- potato.

Exporters hope to fetch $2 lakh this year by exporting 1,100 tonnes of high quality potatoes to Singapore and Malaysia.

Non-government organisation BRAC and another private company, Agri-Concern, are exporting the item and exploring new markets.

Exporters told The Daily Star that the price for high quality Bangladeshi potatoes ranges between $170 and $180 per tonne in Singapore and Malaysia.

But if the Thai market could be tapped, potatoes could attract a premium price of $205 per tonne. And that is where both the organisations are now trying to export.

BRAC first exported only 26 tonnes of potatoes in 1999. The

volume rose to 350 tonnes in 2002. The target for this year has been set at 1,000 tonnes. Mallik Saqui, general manager of the Vegetable Export Programme of BRAC, said 80 per cent of the target would be achieved.

"Had there been no (Singapore-bound) shipment cancellation due to SARS, we would have met the full target," Saqui said.

He said high quality potatoes including the granola variety are grown by contract farmers in Dinajpur and Rangpur and are transported to the Chittagong port for export. Granola potato is round in shape with yellowish flesh.

"We train farmers on production, grading, packaging and storing," said Saqui. "Previously, many failed to export this perishable commodity due to lack of proper technology.

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"But we have successfully developed it. We dry the potatoes sufficiently after harvest, we use net bags instead of gunny bags for packaging and stack them inside the containers leaving room for ventilation."

Sheikh Abdul Kader, proprietor of Agri-Concern, said after exporting 100 tonnes in 2001 and 2002 together, his company has set a target of 300 tonnes for 2003.

The exporters noted that unlike other vegetables, potato has some added advantage. Instead of air lifting, potatoes can be sent by ship, which keeps freight charge low.