Once confined to the kitchens of rural Bangladesh, kachur lati (stolon of taro) and kachur mukhi/kachur chora (eddoe) are now crossing seas to appear on dinner tables in the Middle East and parts of Europe.
What was once a humble local delicacy has transformed into a promising export item, opening new avenues for foreign currency earnings and agricultural diversification.
In the past, taro-based vegetables were considered strictly local, consumed mostly in village households and small-town markets.
But over the past few years, the once “unconventional” vegetables have found growing demand abroad, particularly in regions with large Bangladeshi and South Asian communities.
Exporters and agricultural officials now see the potential to expand these shipments even further by sea, especially as global demand for ethnic vegetables continues to rise.
According to data from the Plant Quarantine Station at Chattogram port exports of kachur lati and kachur mukhi have shown remarkable consistency in recent years.
In 2021, 152.9 tonnes of kachur lati (stolon of taro) were exported through the port followed by 480.55 tonnes in 2022, 305.07 tonnes in 2023, and 293.13 tonnes in 2024.
Similarly, kachur mukhi (eddoe) exports totalled 152.84 tonnes in 2021, 58.3 tonnes in 2022, 47.55 tonnes in 2023, and 92.39 tonnes in 2024. Between January and September 2025 alone, another 38.48 tonnes were shipped abroad.
Exporters say that, depending on the destination, kachur mukhi currently sells for Tk 20-25 per kilogramme while kachur lati fetches Tk 70-80 per kilogramme for export.
“There’s significant opportunity to expand exports to new destinations,” said Imran Hossain, proprietor of Imran Export-Import.
“We’re already sending consignments to multiple countries and working on market expansion in Europe,” he added.
Most kachur mukhi destined for export is sourced from the Kushtia and Meherpur districts, while kachur lati mainly comes from Cumilla, Narsingdi and Jessore. Barura upazila in Cumilla, in particular, has emerged as a production hub.
Mohammad Rashed Chowdhury, agricultural extension officer of Barura upazila, told Times that taro plants and leaves are cultivated across more than 260 hectares in the area.
“We produce about 6,500 tonnes of taro leaves each year,” he said.
“After meeting local demand, a significant portion is exported to countries in the Middle East – including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain – and also to Europe and North America.”
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is actively supporting farmers to increase production and improve post-harvest handling to meet export standards.
Officials say that while kachur lati and kachur mukhi are primarily popular in the Middle East, new export destinations are emerging. Since 2024, kachur mukhi has been exported to France in a first for Bangladesh’s taro sector.
“There is great potential to expand the export of unconventional vegetables like taro,” said Md Hasan Miha, manager of WAK & SA Limited, a Chattogram based exporter of vegetables and frozen foods.
“Our company has started shipping kachur mukhi to France by sea, and we’re working to build long-term market access across Europe.”
He added that the ability to ship by sea—rather than by air—can significantly lower logistics costs and make these vegetables more competitive internationally.
Dr Mohammad Shah Alam, deputy director of the Plant Quarantine Station at Chattogram port, emphasised the strong potential for agricultural exports through seaports.
“The demand for Bangladeshi vegetables is growing not only in the Middle East but also in Europe and America, especially in areas with large expatriate communities,” he said.
He further said the government is actively encouraging the sector by offering a 10 percent cash incentive for vegetable exports.
“New entrepreneurs are entering this field, and we are ensuring strict quality control through the Plant Quarantine Unit to meet international standards,” Alam added.
