Historic achievement as Pakistan joins top 10 global potato producers

Pakistan has made significant strides in potato production, now ranking among the top 10 global producers with a surge of 8 million tonnes.

According to the officials, a remarkable increase to over 8 million tonnes was attributed to expanded cultivation areas and improved farming practices.

In the span of three years, from 2020-21 to 2022-23, Pakistan’s potato production has soared by more than 35%, reaching an estimated 8.01 million tonnes. As the ongoing harvesting season draws to a close, the country expects yet another bumper crop exceeding 8 million tonnes.

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This surge firmly places Pakistan among the leading producers of potatoes globally. In 2022, China topped the list with 95.6 million tonnes, followed by India, Ukraine, Russia, and the USA. Pakistan secured the ninth spot with 7.79 million tonnes, outperforming countries like France and the Netherlands.

The latest data reveals potatoes occupied approximately 0.330 million hectares in 2022-23, yielding 7.94 million tonnes, reflecting a 1.9% increase over the previous year and exceeding the target by 31.8%.

Acknowledged as a high-yielding cash crop after wheat, rice, and maize, potatoes have witnessed rapid growth in cultivation, particularly in Punjab province, which contributes over 95% of the total production.

President of the Potato Growers Association, Maqsood Ahmad Jutt lauded the increase as a significant milestone, underscoring the sub-sector’s success for both producers and consumers. Despite challenges in export value, Pakistan remains a key player in the global potato market, with top destinations including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the UAE.

Additionally, Pakistan showed an increase of more than 33% in export quantity from 2015 to 2019. Unfortunately, during the same period, the country registered a decrease of more than 6% in value.

On average, Pakistan exports around 516,000 tonnes of fresh and or chilled potatoes for an average value of $103,000. However, Pakistan registered an annual growth rate of 3% during the same period with a unit value of $185.

Though export quantities have surged, export values witnessed a decline from 2015 to 2019. Despite this, Pakistan maintains a steady growth rate, indicating its resilience and potential in the global potato trade.