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Potato output, consumption seen key to strengthening food security

Bangladesh Potato Campaign 2008 kicks off

Star Business Report
Potato preservation facilities should be developed for encouraging farmers to grow more potatoes, which, in turn, , would help strengthen food security of the country. Agriculture Adviser CS Karim said yesterday.
" Though potato production increased significantly in last few years, the storage system for its preservation did not increase. In view of increasing potato production, we must take measures for its storage system as well," said the adviser addressing as chief guest the inaugural function of Bangladesh Potato Campaign 2008
He said, 'If we fail to do something for the farmers they would not feel encouraged to
produce the crop".
Ministry of Agriculture, CSD (Canteen Stores Department) Bangladesh, Ministry of Defense and the Hood and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations are jointly organising the three-day campaign at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka with the aim to increase potato consumption.
With 80 lakh tonnes of bumper production of potato this year, the farmers are struggling to preserve and market their produce amid inadequate preservation and distribution facilities.
Government and private cold storages of the country, taken together, have a preservation capacity between 20 lakh and 22 lakh tonnes of potatoes, the inaugural session
was told. The total potato pro duction was around 50 tonnes last year.
Chief of Army Staff General Moeen U Ahmed was present at the function as special guest.
The adviser said the global potato production is shifting from Europe to Asia since 50 percent of the global potato output now comes from Asia.
In the last one year potato production in the country increased by 60 per cent, representing 2-3 per cent of global production and 5 per cent of the total production in Asia. China is die global leader in potato production, while Bangladesh stands tenth.
In his speech, General Moeen U Ahmed thanked the farmers for their relentless work to feed the nation.
“A total of 2.5 crore farmers
are producing 3.5 crore tonnes of food grains a year to feed 15 crore people of the country," Moeen said.
"People are responding to my call and that of the adviser CS Karim to consume more potato so as to help the farmers," he said.
Regarding the criticism from some quarters when he urged all to consume more potato, die Army chief asked, " When we talked in favour of consuming more potato, there were many who opposed. They should then come up with some other way to solve the problem of food price hike".
AD Spijkers, FAO representative in Bangladesh, said, " It has been heartening to note that Bangladesh is now considered as a potato growing country. I should say it is a big
achievement”.
About the bumper production of potato, he said, " It will create a great potential for millions of poor farmers of die country for connecting themselves to the international market and also would provide safety nets for poor households.”
At the function 10 farmers were honoured for their contribution in potato cultivation.
Agriculture Secretary Abdul Aziz also spoke at the function.
A total of 60 government and private organizations with 60 stalls are participating in the campaign. The campaign is open from 9am to 9pm everyday without any entry fee.
Different potato made food items including potato cakes, flakes, ice cream, chips and French fries are on sale at die fair.