Pakistan has surged into the global top-ten potato producers’ club, with production surpassing eight million tons, thanks to an expansion in cultivation areas and the adoption of enhanced farming techniques, officials and farmers said on March 5.
Over the past three years, Pakistan ranking ninth globally in potato output, has experienced a remarkable increase of over 35% in production. Figures have surged from 5.87 million tons in 2020-21 to an estimated 8.01 million tons in 2022-23.
With the potato harvest nearing an end in the current season, the country is projected to achieve another bumper crop, potentially exceeding eight million tons.
Official statistics indicate that in 2022–2023, Pakistan cultivated potatoes on over 0.330 million hectares, with a total production of 7.94 million tons. Comparatively, potato output from an area of 0.304 million hectares was estimated to be 7.79 million tons in 2021–2022. This year’s output level reflects a 1.9% increase over the previous year and exceeds the goal by 31.8%.
Potatoes: Pakistan’s fourth leading crop
Potatoes have emerged as one of Pakistan’s leading commercial food crops, after wheat, rice, and maize. Over the past decade, their economic importance has surged significantly. Rapidly expanding cultivation has led to a substantial increase in land devoted to potato crops, with 196,200 hectares dedicated to potatoes in the 2018–19 season, yielding a total production of 4.57 million tons.
Top potato growers in 2022
China yielded the highest amount of potatoes in 2022, harvesting 95.6 million tons, followed by India in second place with 56.1 million tons. Ukraine ranked third with 20.9 million tons, Russia fourth with 18.9 million tons, and the USA fifth with 17.8 million tons.
Germany secured the sixth spot with 10.6 million tons, while Bangladesh followed in seventh place with 10.1 million tons. France came in eighth with eight million tons, Pakistan ninth with 7.79 million tons, and the Netherlands rounded off the top ten with 6.9 million tons of potato production.
South Korea assists Pakistan in seed potato production
Pakistan, and the Republic of Korea have joined forces in Technical Cooperation Projects (TCP), with a notable focus on seed potato production utilizing aeroponics technology—a flagship endeavor of their collaboration.
The dynamic partnership between KOPIA and PARC, aimed at pioneering the Aeroponic Potato Seed Production System, is poised to revolutionize agricultural productivity and unlock a myriad of job opportunities, heralding a new era of agricultural innovation.
A distinguished ceremony commemorating the harvest of potato seeds took place at the National Agricultural Research Center, graced by the presence of esteemed dignitaries including the Honorable Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Dr. Kausar Abdulla Malik, Park Ki Jun, the Korean Ambassador, and Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman of PARC.