
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry is considering a temporary ban on potato exports to prevent unjustified price increases.
On February 1, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev instructed the Antimonopoly Regulation Service and local authorities to closely monitor food prices.
Government Efforts to Stabilize Prices
Speaking on Birinchi Radio, Torobayev noted that on February 3, the wholesale price of potatoes in Osh, the country’s second-largest city, had reached 60 KGS (about $0.68) per kilogram. However, after government intervention, prices stabilized at 49 KGS (about $0.56) by the evening of the same day.
In the capital, Bishkek, retail potato prices currently range from 55 to 58 KGS (about $0.65) per kilogram.
Torobayev assured that Kyrgyzstan has sufficient potato reserves, with farmers storing supplies while intermediaries inflate market prices – at times reaching 75 KGS per kilogram.
Potential Export Ban and Market Outlook
The government is now considering restricting potato exports. Torobayev urged farmers to sell their produce rather than wait for higher prices, warning that an early spring could lead to an earlier-than-usual harvest, potentially affecting market rates.
Kyrgyzstan’s move follows a similar decision in neighboring Kazakhstan, where The Times of Central Asia previously reported that rising potato prices prompted authorities to impose a six-month restriction on exports to non-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries.