Uzbekistan aims to achieve complete self-sufficiency in potato production by 2027, eliminating reliance on imports. Despite cultivating potatoes on 290,000 hectares, the country still imports a portion of its supply. To address this, the government is investing heavily in boosting domestic production.
A key initiative involves the Potato Research Institute, which will develop higher-yield potato varieties suited to Uzbekistan’s climate. Using in-vitro methods, the institute plans to produce three million tubers annually. The government is allocating 400 billion UZS (USD 30.85 million) from the Agricultural Fund to support these efforts and will exempt imported seed potatoes from customs duties for the next three years. Farmers will also have access to affordable leasing options for potato cultivation and processing equipment.
This push for self-sufficiency is timely, as regional potato prices are rising. Kazakhstan recently suspended potato exports to non-EEU countries, including Uzbekistan, for six months due to domestic price increases, creating challenges for Uzbek importers. Further complicating matters, a shipment of 43 wagons of potatoes from Kazakhstan was recently held at the Uzbek border for over ten days for a phytosanitary inspection. This delay resulted in the potatoes freezing and spoiling, causing significant losses for Kazakh businesses who had sold the shipment before the export ban. The affected companies plan to sue officials over the incident.
