“5 thousand tons is a drop in the ocean”: The deputy criticized the export of potatoes — Tazabek

Tazabek — In September 2026, more than 5 thousand tons of potatoes were exported from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan. This was announced on September 29 by the First Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Son of Ilich Marsbek at a meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security and Migration.

Deputy Star Sadyrbaeva raised the issue of potato sales in the Naryn region, noting that despite a good harvest, farmers are again faced with low prices and sales problems.

According to Marsbek uulu, now the local purchase price of potatoes is about 18–20 soms per kilogram, and there are no restrictions on its import from neighboring countries.

The deputy minister said that in the At-Bashi region, at the expense of the ministry, a storage facility for 2 thousand tons is being built, which is planned to be completed by the end of October. In 2026, 75 new processing enterprises and storage facilities were also opened in Kyrgyzstan.

“This year, entrepreneurs were provided with about 6 billion soms of preferential financing for the construction of processing enterprises and storage facilities. It is planned to open at least 100 new facilities by 2027, and more than 400 enterprises in the next 3 years,” Marsbek uulu said.

He added that the ministry has prepared a map of the location of these facilities, taking into account areas and types of agricultural products.

Answering a question about the role of the state, the deputy minister noted that the state should not directly participate in business, but should create conditions and provide preferential financing.

Regarding exports to Uzbekistan, he reported that more than 5 thousand tons of potatoes were delivered there in September.

“The main volumes of exports to Uzbekistan usually begin to grow after October-November. Before that, they consume their own crops, and in winter the demand for imported potatoes increases,” he said.

Sadyrbaeva called the volume of 5 thousand tons insufficient and criticized the work of the ministry for the lack of specific decisions on the sale of the crop.

At the meeting, a draft letter of agreement was considered on financing the preparation of design estimates for the Omuko irrigation canal in the At-Bashi district of the Naryn region and the Great Talas Canal.