pakistan’s potato production climbs to ninth place globally
Published on: March 6, 2024.
Filed under:
Pakistan Ranks Among Top Ten Potato Producers Worldwide
Pakistan has joined the ranks of the world’s top ten potato producers, with production exceeding eight million tonnes. This increase is attributed to a larger cultivated area and improved farming techniques, according to officials and farmers.
In the past three years, potato production in Pakistan has surged by over 35 percent, from 5.87 million tonnes in 2020-21 to an estimated 8.01 million tonnes in 2022-23. As the potato harvest approaches completion this season, it is anticipated that the country will yield yet another bountiful crop exceeding eight million tonnes.
Pakistan Among Top Global Potato Producers
Pakistan’s surge in potato output has elevated it to the ninth position globally. In 2022, China ranked first with 95.6 million tonnes of potatoes harvested, followed by India in second place with 56.1 million tonnes, and Ukraine in third with 20.9 million tonnes. Russia, the USA, Germany, Bangladesh, France, and the Netherlands also ranked higher than Pakistan in terms of potato production.
According to official data, potato cultivation occupied approximately 0.330 million hectares in 2022-23, resulting in a total production of 7.94 million tonnes. This represents a 1.9 percent increase over the previous year and a 31.8 percent increase over the target. In 2021-22, potato production reached 7.79 million tonnes from an area of 0.304 million hectares.
The Growing Significance of Potatoes in Pakistan’s Agriculture
Potatoes have gained economic importance in Pakistan as one of the high-yielding cash food crops, following wheat, rice, and maize. Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in cropping area, with potato cultivation covering 196,200 hectares and yielding 4.57 million tonnes in 2018-19.
On average, Pakistan achieves a yield of 23 tonnes per hectare, which is relatively low compared to global standards. However, progressive farmers have managed to double the average yield by tapping into the untapped potential of existing cultivation areas.
Punjab Province: A Major Contributor to Potato Production
Over 95 percent of Pakistan’s potato crop is grown in the Punjab province. The province’s core areas are responsible for approximately 80 percent of the total potato production. The province has witnessed a significant increase in cotton production and cultivation area, which has indirectly contributed to potato production growth.
Maqsood Ahmad Jutt, President of the Potato Growers Association, has hailed the increase in potato production as a milestone in the agricultural sector. He emphasized that the potato sub-sector has been successful in both domestic and international trade.
Potato Export Trends
Between 2015 and 2019, Pakistan experienced a more than 33 percent increase in potato export quantity. However, the export value during the same period decreased by over 6 percent. On average, Pakistan exported approximately 516,000 tonnes of fresh and/or chilled potatoes, with an average value of $103,000 per unit. Despite this decrease in value, Pakistan’s overall potato export registered an annual growth rate of 3 percent, with a unit value of $185.
Pakistan currently holds a 3 percent share in the global market for fresh and/or chilled potatoes. Its top five export destinations include Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the Russian Federation, and Qatar.
For more information, visit the Source
