Farmers of Kyrgyzstan in 2018 increased the cultivated area. The government has promised economic benefits. But now they export half as much vegetables for export. Farmers were on the verge of bankruptcy.
10 cents per kilogram of potatoes. Such prices on the markets of Kyrgyzstan are now welcomed only by buyers, farmers in desperation. They are forced to sell root crops two times cheaper than last year. In neighboring countries, the potato harvest in 2018 was rich. If earlier the republic exported 150 thousand tons, now it is very difficult to find buyers abroad.
“The main problem today is in prices. In other countries, gross harvest of potatoes is very good this year. We live in a market economy. Today, there is very little exported of our potatoes on demand and supply, ”said the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Kyrgyzstan Erkinbek Choduyev.
Plant more potatoes! The Ministry of Agriculture made such an appeal to farmers last spring. Economists promised: prices will rise in winter. Believing the forecasts, many farmers have increased the acreage.
“Last spring, I planted 100 tons of potatoes. Spent almost three thousand dollars. And the income is scanty. This year I wonder if it is worth planting? We are barely making ends meet. I’ll be completely ruined if the same happens next winter, ”says farmer Tynchtyk Duyshonbiev.
The state should protect farmers, experts are sure. For this, it is necessary to carry out agricultural reforms, create a unified system of storage of products, and introduce mandatory insurance for farmers themselves.
“Risks of farmers must be insured. This will spur the development of the insurance market and give peace to farmers, ”said economist Kubat Rakhimov.
The Ministry of Agriculture gives a new forecast: potato prices will rise soon. Farmers believe and try to preserve what has not yet spoiled. Last year, Kyrgyz farmers harvested more than one and a half million tons of potatoes.
Source: Galina Bushueva, https://mir24.tv