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Potato export from Rangpur to increase this year

RAF1QUE SARKER, Rangpur
Potato export from Rangpur region will be increased this year, thanks to bumper potato production and lower prices.
The exporters, who are now busy procuring and packaging quality potato from the region, « expect they would export around 2,000 tonnes of potato especially to Malaysia and Singapore.
Last year, mainly four exporters — Global Agro Resources, BRAC, Agro Concern, and BBC Foods -- exponed 1,500 tonnes of potato from the Rangpur region.
Exporters said bumper potato production across the country including greater Rangpur and lower prices this season than the last year's )t encouraged them to collect * and procure mote quantity of
potato.
This year the price of per 80 kg potato is around Tk650, which was Tk800 to Tk850 last year, the exporters said.
BBC Foods of Chittagong through its local sources is procuring export quality potato from Pirgachha, Badcrganj and Sader upazilas ofRangpur.
"All potato can not be exported. Only diamond and granular variety of potato can be exported," said Mojibor Rahman, managing director of BBC Foods.
He said, "Size of the potato is also a factor for export. Each exportable potato must have at least 100 gm weight and must be spotless and fresh."
Expressing dissatisfaction over Agriculture Department for delaying to provide quality certificate, he said, "Potato is a
perishable vegetable. It perishes within few days after loading in containers."
Like BBC Foods, BRAC is also making drives in the fields to procure potato. However, Global Agro Resources and Agro Concern are observing international potato markets at the moment.
Belayet Hossain, managing director of Global Agro Resources, said, "Bangladeshi exporters face tough competition exporting potato. We cannot compete with Pakistan and India as prices of potato is a bit higher in Bangladesh."
Sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension of Additional Directorate Office said, about 3,30,000 tonnes of potato was produced in 1,78,000 hectares of land in eight northern districts this year.