With the onset of potato cultivation season, the importers have begun to import quality potato seed from the Netherlands.
The potato seed has arrived through Chittagong port on reefer containers -- which are big fridges used to transport temperature-sensitive cargoes like fruits, meat, frozen fish, vegetable and dairy products.
The Chittagong Plant Quarantine Station (Sea Port) of the Department of Agricultural Extension issued the release orders of the imported potato seed against six importers from November 1 to November 11.
The station's Deputy Director Ashaduzzaman Bulbul said that the authorities were helping the traders complete import proceedings fast, issuing the import permit (IP) and release orders without any delay.
The imported potato seed include varieties of Diamond, Carolus, Margarita, Barcelona and Accent.
Previously, the Department of Agriculture Marketing (DAM) reset the price of potato at Tk35 per kg at retail markets.
The prices of per kg potato at the wholesale market were fixed at Tk30 and at cold storage Tk27.
However, the potato was being retailed at Tk45 in Chittagong markets.