By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture on Monday has decided to impose a 6 month ban on potato exports to non-Eurasian Economic Union countries to stabilize domestic potato prices, a statement published by the ministry said.
The statement said that due to increased demand from neighboring countries and high export prices this year, potato exports have surged by 1.5 times, affected local markets, said the ministry, media reported.
The ban will not apply to trade with EAEU member states, aims to prevent speculative price hikes and ensure market stability, said the ministry, stressed that current potato reserves are sufficient to meet domestic demand until the early 2025 harvest.
The total reserves exceed 850,000 tons, excluding stock held in retail chains.
The 2024 harvest was 2.9 million tons, according to the ministry.
Kazakhstan is a significant consumer and producer of potatoes in Central Asia, with a longstanding agricultural tradition.
The nation has a diverse climate and a substantial amount of arable land, leading to a stable domestic potato production industry.
Kazakhstan’s potato cultivation benefits from modern agricultural practices, including irrigation systems and mechanized farming techniques.
The farmers plant potatoes in the spring, with harvesting occurred in late summer or early autumn.
Kazakhstan as one of the leading potato-producing countries in Central Asia has a diverse range of potato varieties cultivated across the country.
The main potato-growing regions in Kazakhstan include North Kazakhstan, Akmola, Karaganda, and East Kazakhstan, benefiting from favorable soil conditions and adequate irrigation.
Potato production in Kazakhstan is characterized by both large-scale commercial farms and smallholder producers.
Comments are closed.