Question : EXPORT OF POTATO



(a) the total quantity of potato exported during the last three years, upto 31 March, 2002;

(b) whether the Union Government have any special plan to boost the export of potato in view of its increased production; and

(c) if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister



THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)


(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (c) of STARRED QUESTION NO. 745 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17th MAY, 2002 REGARGING EXPORT OF POTATO


(a) The data on export of potatoes during the past 3 years is given below:


Year	Quantity (in M. Tons)	Value (in Rs. Lakhs)
1998-99 7873 519.43 1999-2000 28200 1395.32 2000-01 22637 1160.09 2001-02 (April 2001 to January 2002) 7843 286.63
Source: Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Kolkata. Data on export for the period of February, 2002 till date is not yet available


b) & c) In a bid to boost the export of potatoes, Government have approved the creation of Agri export zones in Utter Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.