Potato cultivation holds significant potential in Bangladesh and plays a crucial role in the country agricultural economy. As a nutritious and versatile crop, potatoes contribute substantially to meeting the growing food demands of the population. They are considered the third most important food crop in Bangladesh after rice and wheat. Potatoes provide an excellent source of carbohydrates, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, making them an important component of daily nutrition.
In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Bangladesh recorded a historic potato production of about 1.15 croretonnes (11.5 million metric tons) from a cultivated area of 4.92 lakh hectares (DAE). This represents an increase of around 9% in total production and 8% expansion in cultivated area compared to the 2023-2024 season. Potato cultivation in Bangladesh is mainly carried out during the winter season, with the peak planting period occurring from mid-October to November.
Potatoes are widely used as food, industrial raw materials, and processed products. Various potato-based products such as chips, flakes, starch, frozen French fries, and crisps are produced at industrial levels, while sun-dried and fried products are commonly prepared at household levels. The increasing demand from both consumers and the food processing industry has made potato an increasingly popular crop among farmers.
Bangladesh possesses favorable climatic and soil conditions for potato production, especially during the winter season. Potato is primarily cultivated as a winter (Rabi) crop, the optimal temperature range for potato growth and development is between 15°C to 25°C. In Bangladesh, potato seeds are typically planted from late October to mid-November and harvesting usually takes place from January to March.
Potato also plays an important role in food security. During years of severe flooding or natural disasters, potato seed stocks stored in cold storage facilities allow farmers to quickly resume cultivation once conditions improve. Due to its short growing period and relatively high yield compared to many other crops, potato cultivation offers quick economic returns for farmers.
Soil salinity and seasonal droughtare considered the major ecological threats to global agriculture. It disrupts plant physiological processes and significantly affects both the yield and quality of crops, including potatoes, particularly in semi-arid growing regions. In addition, salinity creates unfavorable hydrological conditions that hinder normal crop growth and development.
The impact of salinity varies depending on its intensity and the growth stage of the crop, often resulting in reduced yields and, in severe cases, complete crop failure. Soil salinity is largely a seasonal problem that severely affects crop production in the coastal saline belt, especially during the rabi season. However, salinity levels generally decline and become nearly neutral during the Kharif-II season, causing comparatively less damage to crop production during that period.
Potato plants are particularly sensitive to salinity, especially during their early growth stages. Salinity stress directly affects photosynthesis, one of the most important physiological processes in plants. It also increases respiration rates, causes ion toxicity, and leads to membrane instability, which collectively result in poor plant growth. In Bangladesh, about 0.83 million hectares of land in the southern coastal belt are affected by soil salinity. During the rabi season, a large portion of these saline lands remains fallow. Expanding potato cultivation in these areas could help reduce food shortages and improve land utilization.
Therefore, the development and promotion of salt-tolerant, high-yielding potato varieties are essential for enhancing crop production in the saline-affected coastal regions of Bangladesh.The cultivation of the salt-tolerant potato varieties BARI Alu-72, and BARI Alu-78 developed by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, has recently gained significant popularity among farmers in ChokoriaUpazila of Cox's Bazar.
This variety has shown promising results in saline-prone agricultural lands, which are common in many coastal areas of Bangladesh. The results were highly encouraging, with farmers achieving a production of about 25-30 metric tons of potatoes per hectare, which is nearly double the yield of conventional potato varieties typically grown in the region. One of the notable advantages of this variety is its short growing duration of around 90 days, allowing farmers to harvest earlier and potentially fit the crop into different cropping patterns.BARI Alu-72,and BARI Alu-78are particularly suitable for saline soils, making it an effective option for coastal agriculture where soil salinity often limits crop production.
These varieties are high-yielding, salt-tolerant, and adaptable, which has made it attractive to farmers dealing with increasing salinity due to climate change and seawater intrusion. To expand its adoption, 10,000 kg best qualityBARI Alu-72, and BARI Alu-78seeds and fertilizerswere distributed to 150 farmers in ChokoriaUpazila. Farmers who cultivated these varieties reported a bumper harvest, demonstrating its strong potential for improving productivity in saline-affected areas. In addition to its agronomic advantages, BARI Alu-72, and BARI Alu-78also has good market demand. The potatoes have a reddish skin and pleasant taste, which has increased consumer preference and demand in local markets compared to many traditional varieties.
Previously, farmers in this area had limited access to BARI Alu varieties due to low awareness. Many farmers were not familiar with the potential benefits of these improved varieties, including their tolerance to salinity and drought conditions. As a result, they continued cultivating traditional or local potato varieties that are less resilient to environmental stress.Overall, the introduction of BARI Alu-72and BARI Alu-78has created new opportunities for farmers in saline-affected coastal regions of coxsbazar. By utilizing previously underproductive saline land, these varieties can contribute to higher farm income, better land use, and improved food security in coastal Bangladesh.
The writer is Senior Scientific Officer, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
