Potato News from Asia

In a bid to rein in prices of potatoes, the government of the Indian State Odisha has imposed stock holding limits on this Indian staple.

Over the last month, potato prices in Dhaka, Bangladesh have seen large increases, as supplies are tight.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Finance has announced that the special commodity levy on imported big onions and potatoes had been increased with effect from midnight Wednesday, May 2nd.

Potatoes from Da Lat (Vietnam) will have a new logo and brand that will make it more difficult for traders to sell cheaper Chinese potatoes under the Da Lat name.

In Cambodia, researchers at the Potato Research Centre at the Royal University of Agriculture announced last week that five provinces and the capital itself will become the country's hub for potato growing after successful tests of a range of potato varieties were recently finished.

More details on the investment plans of Dutch French fry manufacturer Farm Frites in Kazakhstan have been published on the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan following additional meetings on the topic.

Higher potato prices are reported in various states of India (Punjab, West-Bengal), offering relief (Punjab) or even a windfall (West-Bengal) for farmers.

Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture stated that they have banned potato imports from Turkey until July, 2018 to eliminate the spread of 'potato cancer' on Georgian territory.

The climate of Azerbaijan is favorable for the cultivation of many fruits and vegetables, including potatoes. However, there is a need for increasing potato farming since Azerbaijan imports this vegetable from abroad as well.

Since 2015, China has selected more than 10 potato varieties suitable for processing staple foods and developed more than 300 potato-based versions of staple food.

Japan's Cup Noodle maker Nissin continues to push the instant ramen envelope in delicious new ways. And now they have waded into PotatoPro territory.

Potato growers of the Thakurgaon district, Bangladesh are worried that they might not be able to recover the production cost due to sudden drop in the prices of the vegetable in the ongoing harvesting season.

Dutch potato processing companies are increasing their market share in the South Korean Frozen French Fry market.

Uzbekistan will allow tax-free import of potatoes until January 1, 2019. The measure is intended to eliminate the shortage of potatoes in the domestic market and to curb rising prices

Taiwan authorities amended their quarantine documentation requirements for imports of fresh potatoes, both table stock and chipping potatoes.

Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the Indian federal government was planning to draw a sustainable roadmap to keep soaring prices of staples tomato, onion and potato under control.

China will review anti-dumping duties levied on potato starch imported from the EU which are due to expire, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced earlier this month.

The potato production in West Bengal is expected to drop from last year’s 11 million tonne to 8-10 million tonnes in 2018, but is unlikely to impact the price, officials said.