Potato export to Pakistan sees a sudden jump

NEW DELHI: The tension between India and Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attack notwithstanding potato exports to the neighbouring country has witnessed a significant jump in the last one month.

Up to 90 trucks of 15 tonne each is crossing the border everyday as compared to 10-20 during 2007-08 season, said a potato exporter from Jalandhar, Jung Bahadur Sangha.

He said the exports picked up in mid-November and before that less than 10 trucks. Incidentally India witnessed the worst-ever terror attack in Mumbai towards November end.

���This season there was bumper potato production in the country and the price crashed to Rs 1-2 a kg. The prices in Pakistan was fetching Rs 6 a kg, so traders increased their exports for better business opportunity, Mr Sangha said.
���This situation is temporary and is going to continue maximum 3-4 months more,��� he said.

After that it will depend on the production as well as the price of the commodity.

The potato production stood at 29.5 million tonne in 2007-08 as compared to 24-25 million tonne in 2006-07. The vegetable is grown in 150 countries and its annual production is 300 million tonne.

According to another exporter Sukhjit Singh Bhatti, exports to Pakistan started picking up from May 2008 as their production dipped when the crops were affected by frost. As Pakistan���s potato produce is yet to hit the market, the exports continued to rise in order to fill the gap, he said.

Pakistan produces the Holland variety, which takes 120-130 days to mature whereas the Indian variety takes less time and can be harvested in 70-80 days.

Meanwhile, according to media reports Pakistan Potato Growers Society has urged the government to ban the import of Indian potatoes, saying its production is sufficient to meet its domestic consumption.

It said that around 2,000 tonne of Indian potatoes reach Pakistan through the Wagah border daily. The report further said that import is continuing despite the availability of local new potatoes. The high price is making the Indian potatoes a favourite among the Pakistan nationals.