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Assessment of the Potato Sector of Bangladesh: It's Opportunities and Growth Hindrances

Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani
Professor
Department of Horticulture, BAU, Mymensingh

Dr. Md. Abdus Siddique
Professor
Department of Horticulture, BAU, Mymensingh

Dr. Md. Monirul Islam
Professor
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, BAU, Mymensingh

Dr. M. Serajul Islam
Professor
Department of Agricultural Economics, BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A survey study on present status, constraints and prospects of the potato sector of Bangladesh was conducted by a team of experts during the period from June 2009 to July 2010. The gathered information were validated through a workshop. The findings of the study were presented in a report, entitled, " The Potato Sector in Bangladesh: Its Challenges and Opportunities", published by KATALYST in July 2010. For the study, information were collected from different stakeholders through personal interview, questionnaire, FGD, key informants interview and consultation of available documents. The findings showed that the area, production and yield of potato in Bangladesh increased many fold, particularly in Rajshahi and Rangpur regions, during the last 5 years, reaching to 4.64 lakh hectares and 67.46 lakh Mt in the country in 2008-09. Increased production often resulted market glut due to inefficient system of marketing, inadequate cold storage facilities, transport problems and constraints in proper utilization. The potato growers were always the worst sufferer during market glut situations. Value chain analysis indicated that, under normal situations the marketing profit of the farmers ranged between 20-38% among the 6 potato growing zones. There has been some increase in export of fresh potatoes, but there was no real breakthrough. Industrial processing is negligible. More than 90% of the total production of potato is consumed locally as table potatoes. Problems of the cold storage owners, potato exporters, potato processors, seed potato producers and in potato research were identified and suggestions for possible improvement have been made.

Keywords: Potato sector study, Table and seed Potato, Production, Storage and marketing, Processing and export, Growth hindrances and prospects.

Location: Munshiganj, Comilla, Chandpur, Jessore, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Bogra, Rangpur,Dinajpur,Jamalpur and Sherpur districts

Start Date: 00-06-2009

End Date: 00-07-2010

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Potato

Objectives:

(a) To review the background and assess the present status of the potato sector of Bangladesh.

(b) To investigate the problems/constraints hindering the overall development of the potato sector.

(c) To suggest measures for minimizing the growth hindrances of the potato sector leading to utilization of the potentials and opportunities of its sub-sectors up to the maximum level.

Methodology:

The study area covered major potato growing areas of the country. Considering area coverage and production of potato and other associated factors, 6 potato growing areas of the country, namely, Munshiganj, Comilla-Chandpur, Jessore-Kushtia, Rajshahi-Bogra, Rangpur-Dinajpur and Jamalpur-Sherpur were selected for the study, and each area was considered as a potato growing zone. Information from the concerned stakeholders and actors of potato sector were collected for the study. The actors included, potato growers, traders, Arotdars, retailers, consumers, cold storage owners, exporters, processors, seed producers and dealers, tissue culture labs, relevant public and private sector organizations and NGOs. The public sector organizations included TCRC, BADC, DAE, Seed Wing of MoA, SCA, BBS, RDA, BARD, Export Promotion Bureau, Hortex Foundation, and the Agricultural Universities. The methods followed in conducting the study included, personal interview, questionnaire, FGD, key informants interview, review of relevant documents and literature. The collected primary data were processed and analyzed in standard procedures. A draft report was prepared using the processed data and all other relevant information collected. The information were validated through a Validation Workshop in presence of representatives of most of the stakeholders and actors of the sector.

Source of Information: Katalyst, Dhaka. Bangladesh. 144 p.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The findings showed that the area, production and yield of potato in Bangladesh increased many fold, particularly in Rajshahi and Rangpur regions, during the last 5 years, reaching to 4.64 lakh hectares and 67.46 lakh Mt in the country in 2008-09. Increased production often resulted market glut due to inefficient system of marketing, inadequate cold storage facilities, transport problems and constraints in proper utilization. The potato growers were always the worst sufferer during market glut situations. Value chain analysis indicated that, under normal situations the marketing profit of the farmers ranged between 20-38% among the 6 potato growing zones. There has been some increase in export of fresh potatoes, but there was no real breakthrough. Industrial processing is negligible. More than 90% of the total production of potato is consumed locally as table potatoes. Problems of the cold storage owners, potato exporters, potato processors, seed potato producers and in potato research were identified and suggestions for possible improvement have been made.

Knowledge Management: Journal, Report/Proceedings