Potato supply deficit addressed by the Trade Ministry
Year after year, the potato shortage persists, yet the Ministry of Agriculture remains unresponsive - according to Minister of Trade and Integration, Bakhyt Sultanov. In a meeting, Sultanov highlighted that domestic potato production surpasses internal consumption by a significant margin, yet commercial potato production is only 47% of the total harvest.
"Our stores struggle due to the shortage, leading to the need for off-season imports," Sultanov explained. Last year, exports reached an astounding 360,000 tons, demonstrating a mere 19% of commercial production.
"Despite this recurring issue, neither the Ministry of Agriculture nor local executive bodies seem to take appropriate action," the minister concluded.
In light of potato shortages in Kazakhstan, possible reasons include post-harvest losses, seasonal supply fluctuations, market dynamics, and import policies. Enhancing storage infrastructure, improving distribution networks, market regulation, seasonal price management, and quality testing could help mitigate these issues.
Unfortunately, specific data on Kazakhstan's potato shortages was not found, and the measures not taken by the Ministry of Agriculture were not detailed. Currently, Kazakhstan boosts potato imports from countries like China and Pakistan due to the ongoing shortage. The precise steps denied by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture have yet to be specified.
- The Ministry of Trade and Integration, specifically Minister Bakhyt Sultanov, emphasized that Kazakhstan's domestic potato production exceeds internal consumption significantly.
- Sultanov further explained that commercial potato production amounts to only 47% of the total harvest, leading to a potato shortage in the country.
- As a result of the shortage, imports of potatoes during off-seasons are necessary to meet the demands of Kazakhstan's stores.
- Last year, a total of 360,000 tons of potatoes were exported, accounting for a mere 19% of commercial production, indicating a huge potential for local integration in the potato industry.
