Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Saturday said Bangladesh has a surplus production of 35 metric tons potato after meeting domestic demand.

“The surplus potato would be exported, but the potato must be produced maintaining required quality,” he added.

The minister was addressing the annual general meeting of Bangladesh Cold Storage Association (BCSA) in Dhaka as the chief guest.

Mentioning that Bangladesh cannot export potato to Russia and few other countries due to different complexities, Tipu said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has identified some problems and those are being solved.

The minister said the government is giving emphasis potato export that is why research on potato should be carried out.

Farmers are not getting actual price even after preserving potato in the cold storage, he said, adding the government is working keeping the issue of fair price and damage so that potato is turned into a valuable product.

FBCCI President Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin, BCSA first vice president Kamrul Hossain Chowdhury and executive committee member Mustafa Azad Chowdhury Babu also spoke on the occasion with BCSA President M Mosharaf Hossain in the chair.