Pakistán: Punjab expects record 3.7m ton potato crop
Punjab grows 90 percent of Pakistan’s potato crop and this season a bumper yield of 3.71 million tons is expected. According to an official of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFSR), this can fetch a record foreign exchange.
The provincial production breakup is expected to be as follows: 3,550 thousand tonnes in Punjab, 4.5 thousand tonnes in Sindh, 126.9 thousand tonnes in KP and 35 thousand tonnes in Balochistan.The NFSR Secretary Seerat Asghar added that the bumper crop would not only keep local prices of potato stable but would also provide a huge opportunity to earn foreign exchange.
The secretary reiterated that record increase in export to Russia, Sri Lanka and Turkey was expected this year.Due to influx of migrants, the demand for potato is on the rise in Europe and this may offer a good opportunity to Pakistan.
He said that in the current unfavorable conditions, this record production may prove a sigh of relief for farmers as they may get good returns for their produce.
Fuente: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/151809/Punjab-expects-record-3.7m-ton-potato-crop
