Muhammad Luqman

Potato growers in Punjab, reeling from steep financial losses after a sharp price crash, could find relief through improved post-harvest management and value addition, food technology experts say.

The downturn — triggered by bumper production, weak domestic consumption, and sluggish exports — has forced many farmers to sell their crop below cost.

Experts believe large-scale processing and dehydration can help absorb surplus output, transform potatoes into higher-value products, and stabilize farm incomes by opening access to both local and international markets.

“Value addition of the potato crop may be the most effective way to generate income for farmers who have been facing price crashes for the last two years,” said Dr. Ahmad Din, Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Food Science and Technology in Faisalabad.

Globally, less than half of potato production is consumed fresh, with the rest processed into products such as frozen French fries, crisps, flakes, powder, and canned goods.

Dr. Ahmad Din said that potatoes otherwise wasted due to overproduction can be converted into value-added forms and sold profitably. He added that Pakistan’s surplus crop and competitive pricing position the country well for expanding its processing industry, boosting exports, and generating manufacturing jobs.

Currently, Pakistan produces potato crisps and French fries on a relatively large scale, while output of starch and other processed derivatives remains limited.

French fries present stronger export potential than crisps, given robust global demand and growing domestic consumption. In contrast, the international market for crisps is comparatively smaller, making them less attractive for export expansion. Opportunities in starch, flour, and flakes remain constrained due to comparatively lower returns.

Punjab, the country’s agricultural heartland, recorded a bumper harvest of 12 million metric tons of potatoes in the 2025-26 season — a 25% increase over the previous year. However, subdued domestic demand and disruptions in cross-border trade, particularly with Afghanistan, have deepened the price slump.

Ahmad Din urged federal and Punjab governments to introduce incentives for establishing potato processing and dehydration plants, enabling growers to secure fair prices for their produce.

Growers, however, point to another challenge: the suitability of local potato varieties for processing.

“For value addition, potatoes must have high Dry Matter Content (DMC) to produce quality chips, snacks, flour, and starch. Only a few varieties grown in Pakistan meet this requirement,” said Chaudhary Muhammad Maqsood Jutt, Chairman of the Potato Growers Society.

Out of more than 100 potato varieties cultivated nationwide, only about half a dozen possess high DMC levels suitable for processing. These include Lady Rosetta, Sante, Mozika, and Astrex.

Maqsood Jutt, who is also former chairman of Potato Research and Development Board, emphasized the need to diversify potato cultivation based on end-use requirements. “Only a portion of the crop should be grown for table consumption, while the majority should target commercial and industrial processing with a focus on value addition,” he said.

Pakistan currently has around a dozen big processing plants, though only one or two are owned by growers themselves.

Maqsood Jutt stressed the importance of establishing more grower-owned value addition facilities to prevent future price crashes and ensure sustainable returns for farmers.

Credit: INP-WealthPk