Published
09/29/2026, 18:12The Ministry of Agriculture is proposing to introduce a six-month ban on potato imports. The relevant draft resolution has been put out for public consultation.
According to the ministry, 24,700 tonnes of potatoes were imported into Kyrgyzstan between January and July 2026. The bulk of these imports came from China — over 21,400 tonnes.
Potatoes were also imported from Germany (834.2 tonnes), Kazakhstan (415.5 tonnes), Pakistan (305.4 tonnes), Iran (48.9 tonnes), Russia (31.4 tonnes) and Uzbekistan (24.7 tonnes).
Meanwhile, during the first seven months of 2026, Kyrgyzstan produced 486,000 tonnes of potatoes. According to forecasts, production for the year as a whole is expected to reach 1,249,700 tonnes.
The annual potato demand of the Kyrgyz population is estimated at 799.7 thousand tonnes. Thus, the projected production volume exceeds domestic consumption by approximately 450 thousand tonnes.
The Ministry of Agriculture notes that the harvest is currently underway in the country and that potato production is exceeding domestic demand. According to the ministry, continuing imports during this period could lead to a fall in prices for domestically produced potatoes.
In light of this, the ministry is proposing a temporary six-month ban on potato imports.
