Uzbekistan: Potato Output Grows Fivefold to 3.72 Million Tonnes, but Imports Remain
Uzbekistan produced 3.72 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, five times the 2000 level. Yields near 30 t/ha lead Central Asia, but seasonal imports continue.
Uzbekistan produced 3.72 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, according to FAOSTAT data published by Our World in Data. In 2000, output was 0.73 million tonnes. Production has grown about five times in 24 years. The 2024 crop was 4% larger than the 3.57 million tonnes of 2023.
National data show the same scale. The State Statistics Committee reported nearly 3.1 million tonnes grown by all types of farms in January–September 2025. Samarkand region led with 631.9 thousand tonnes. Tashkent region followed with 320 thousand tonnes and Fergana region with 317.4 thousand tonnes.
High yields, uncertain area
The FAOSTAT average yield rose from 14.0 t/ha in 2000 to 29.8 t/ha in 2024. In 2023 it was 31.9 t/ha. These are the highest yields in the region. FAOSTAT shows 21.9 t/ha in Kazakhstan and 17.9 t/ha in Kyrgyzstan for 2024.
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Area data are less consistent. A February 2025 report by Spot.uz, cited by FreshPlaza, mentioned a new harvest from 122,000 hectares. The Times of Central Asia wrote in January 2025 that potatoes grow on 290,000 hectares. The sources do not explain the gap.
Still dependent on imports
Seasonal gaps remain. According to Spot.uz, the late harvest produced 1 million tonnes, covering only 44% of estimated demand of 1.7 million tonnes. Uzbekistan imported more than 94,000 tonnes from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyz officials said at least 100,000 tonnes went to Uzbekistan in 2024, up from 30,000 tonnes a year earlier.
Costs rise too. Since 2020, potato prices have risen by 173% and fertiliser costs by 175%, the same report said.
The government aims for self-sufficiency by 2027. It allocated 400 billion UZS (US$30.85 million) from the Agricultural Fund. Imported seed is exempt from customs duty for three years, according to The Times of Central Asia.
Why it matters
Uzbekistan combines strong yields with persistent seasonal shortages. This makes it a growing market for seed, storage and late-season supply. Suppliers from Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Afghanistan compete for the import gap.
The unclear area statistics are a warning for investors. Market sizing should rely on production and trade data, not on area figures alone.
Photo: Potato harvest in Sokh, Uzbekistan (illustrative). Shoh17 / Wikimedia Commons, public domain
