Pakistan has exported 75,000 tons of potatoes. Pakistan is expected to harvest around three million tons of potato this season as against 2.3 million tons last year and after meeting the domestic demand of around 1.5 million tons, a surplus of around 1.5 million tons will be available for export.
Today, Pakistan ranks in the world top twenty potato producing nation. The percentage of the potato crop used for processing has steadily increased. Pakistan produces good quality, smooth and natural yellow and red skin, long and round shaped potatoes. Potato is a versatile, carbohydrate-rich food highly popular worldwide and prepared and served in a variety of ways. Freshly harvested, it contains about 80 percent water and 20 percent dry matter. About 60 to 80 percent of the dry matter is starch. On a dry weight basis, the protein content of potato is similar to that of cereals and is very high in comparison with other roots and tubers.
Nutritionally, potatoes are best known for their carbohydrates content (approximately 26 grams in a medium potato). Potatoes contain a number of important vitamins and minerals. A medium potato with the skin provides 27mg vitamin C, 620mg of Potassium, 0.2mg vitamin B6 and a trace amount of thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc.
