Pakistan Ranks Among the Top 10 Potato Producers Globally
Published on: March 9, 2024.
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Pakistan Emerges as a Top Potato Producer
Pakistan’s potato production has soared, placing the country among the top ten potato producers globally. With expanded cultivation and improved farming techniques, Pakistan has witnessed a remarkable increase in production, surpassing eight million tonnes. Over the past three years, production has surged by over 35 percent, from 5.87 million tonnes in 2020-21 to an estimated 8.01 million tonnes in 2022-23.
The ongoing season is projected to yield another bumper crop of over eight million tonnes, further solidifying Pakistan’s position as a key player in potato production worldwide.
In 2022, China led the global rankings with 95.6 million tonnes, followed by India, Ukraine, Russia, and the USA. Pakistan secured the ninth spot with 7.79 million tonnes.
Official data for 2022-23 reveals that potato cultivation covered nearly 0.330 million hectares, resulting in a yield of 7.94 million tonnes.
The previous year saw a production of 7.79 million tonnes from 0.304 million hectares, marking a 1.9 percent increase over the previous year and an impressive 31.8 percent increase over the target.
The cultivation of potatoes in Pakistan has witnessed significant growth in recent years, making it a major cash crop alongside wheat, rice, and maize. However, the average yield in Pakistan still lags behind global standards, even though some farmers have achieved double the average yield. Punjab province contributes over 95 percent to the total production.
Maqsood Ahmad Jutt, president of the Potato Growers Association, applauded the increase in production as a milestone, recognizing the sector’s positive impact on both producers and consumers.
Despite a 33 percent increase in export quantity from 2015 to 2019, Pakistan experienced a decline of over 6 percent in export value during the same period.
Pakistan’s top export destinations for potatoes include Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the Russian Federation, and Qatar.
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