In 2023, Tajikistan faced a significant drop in agricultural exports. The total export decreased by 13,000 tons, amounting to 178,000 tons in total.
The primary reason for this decline was the loss of over 60% of the grape harvest due to cold temperatures during the previous winter.
According to the Tajikistan Export Agency, the most significant contributors to exports were dried fruits (83,300 tons), vegetables (60,700 tons), and fresh fruits (over 27,000 tons), with onions dominating at 98%, reaching 59,700 tons.
Grapes led fresh fruit exports at 10,000 tons, trailed by apricots (8,900 tons), plums (3,300 tons), and a noteworthy surge in lemon exports at 2,400 tons.
Major importers of Tajik agricultural products included Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and various European and Asian countries.
Despite the high global demand for Tajikistan's ecologically clean agricultural products, domestic exporters faced several challenges. These challenges included the absence of wholesale logistics centres, modern warehouses with refrigeration facilities, and enterprises for packaging and processing finished products.
Bakhriddin Sirojiddinzoda, Export Agency head, underscores losses from inadequate storage, stressing the urgency of wholesale logistics centres. An agreement with Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan aims to address this gap.
source: asiaplustj.info