Kyrgyz farmers often have inflated expectations about the quality of their products, according to Tilek Toktogaziev, chairman of the Berry Growers Association. Speaking on January 10 during a radio broadcast, he expressed concerns about farmers' claims that their produce is premium, organic, and eco-friendly.
"Unfortunately, this is far from reality. Even the minimum requirements are often not met," Toktogaziev stated.
He compared the situation in Kyrgyzstan to agricultural practices in the United States, particularly in California, where stringent ecological standards, advanced science, selective breeding, and strong competition have boosted productivity.
"In California, agricultural yields are on average 10 times higher than in Kyrgyzstan. Despite this, the prices for products like berries remain at a similar level," he explained.
"The global market is highly competitive, and succeeding in it is becoming increasingly difficult. If we want to sell our products at higher prices, we need to improve quality standards," Toktogaziev emphasized.
Source: www.tazabek.kg