The Ministry of Agriculture has assured that potato prices will not increase.

The Ministry of Agriculture commented on reports regarding the introduction of restrictions on potato exports from Kazakhstan, which is said to potentially lead to an increase in potato prices in Uzbekistan.

According to the statement, Uzbekistan's annual potato demand is 4 million tons. In 2024, 3.7 million tons of potatoes were harvested. Of this volume, 600 thousand tons were reserved as seed material for the next season, and natural losses amounted to approximately 100 thousand tons (3%).

For the autumn-winter season of 2024–2025, procurement enterprises, engaged by local administrations, have formed a stock of 245.5 thousand tons of potatoes.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has developed and approved a 10-day schedule for the release of potato stocks onto the domestic market, broken down by regions. The document has been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional, and Tashkent administrations for execution.

As of January 20, 6.3 thousand tons of potatoes from the reserves of procurement enterprises have been released into the domestic market, with the remaining volume totaling 239.2 thousand tons.

In 2024, Uzbekistan imported 703 thousand tons of potatoes, including 74.4 thousand tons in December. The import of potatoes is not solely dependent on Kazakhstan; they are also sourced from Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. Additionally, from January to May 2025, it is planned to import 200 thousand tons of potatoes (100 thousand tons each from Iran and Pakistan).

In the Surkhandarya region, locally grown potatoes will be supplied to the market in the second half of March and in April 2025.

To ensure the domestic market is supplied with potatoes and to maintain price stability, potato stocks will be released every 10 days in volumes of 15–25 thousand tons.