Jalandhar's potato growers have signed a deal with Russian traders to export the vegetable. The first consignment, of the total export contract size of 5,000 tonnes, left Jalandhar on February 17.

Growers in Punjab are also in talks to export potatoes to Iran, Iraq and Dubai. West Bengal farmers are also looking at opportunities to ship potatoes to countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The Confederation of Potato Seed Farmers (Poscon) will be despatching the 5,000 tonnes of potatoes to Russia. "We have to see how business unfolds there before we commit to send larger volumes," an exporter said to Exim News Service.