Overestimated potato harvest figures for 2024 could be the real cause of the shortage and subsequent price spike in Kazakhstan, according to agricultural expert Toleutai Rakhimbekov. He suggests that the Ministry of Agriculture's reported harvest of 2.9 million tons might be exaggerated, and the actual production could be closer to 1 million tons. This discrepancy, along with the reported exports and the resulting shortage in the country, has led to a price surge from 100 to 450 tenge per kilogram (€0.19-€0.83).
Rakhimbekov points to several factors contributing to the inflated production reports, including the shift from large, powerful collective farms to smaller, less productive farms, as well as reduced irrigated land and lack of financial resources for farmers to invest in quality seeds, fertilizers, and equipment.
The expert also raised concerns about similar inaccuracies in vegetable harvest figures, noting that while Kazakhstan reports producing 4.7-4.8 million tons of vegetables annually, the actual production is likely much lower, closer to 500,000 tons.
Source: eldala.kz