By Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistan's potato output has crossed 12.1 million tons in the current season, but the record crop has turned into a price challenge for growers as export channels and logistics have failed to absorb the sharp increase in production.

According to official documents of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, available with Wealth Pakistan, the cultivated area of potato increased from approximately 177,700 hectares in 2015-16 to around 462,160 hectares in 2025-26. Production rose from 3.8 million tons to over 12.0 million tons during the same period.

In the current season, potato cultivation expanded by around 23% compared with the previous year, resulting in an estimated production of over 12.1 million tons. The documents state that the unprecedented increase in production, coupled with limited export channels and logistical constraints, led to a domestic price crisis.

The issue matters for farmers because a bumper crop does not automatically mean higher income. When production rises faster than storage, transport and export capacity, growers can face falling prices despite producing more. For consumers and policymakers, the situation highlights a recurring weakness in Pakistan's farm economy: production gains are often not matched by market planning.

The documents show that major export destinations for Pakistani potatoes include Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. However, limited export access, freight costs and route constraints have made it difficult to move surplus production into foreign markets at the required pace.

In view of the emerging crisis, the Prime Minister constituted a high-level committee on potato exports under the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Multiple meetings were convened under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research and the Deputy Prime Minister to address key issues affecting exports.

The documents state that the meetings focused on freight costs, export facilitation, alternative export routes, subsidised storage, visa facilitation for drivers and reopening of export markets, particularly the Russian market.

The case of potato shows that Pakistan's agricultural challenge is no longer only about increasing yields or expanding cultivated area. The larger test is whether higher production can be supported by timely exports, cold storage, logistics and market access so that farmers are not exposed to sudden price crashes.

For growers, the outcome will depend on how quickly the government can ease export bottlenecks and create reliable market channels. Without that, higher production may continue to benefit neither farmers nor the broader agricultural economy.

Credit: INP-WealthPk