+33 680 38 14 46
Uzbek Farmers Suffer From Export Restrictions
Uzbekistan
Wednesday 17 September 2008
On July 31, the state news agency UzA reported a nationwide campaign to ensure a stable supply of food and organise fruit and vegetable deliveries.
“Exports of meat and agricultural products from Uzbekistan are prohibited in an effort to fully satisfy domestic demand… such measures contribute to people’s welfare,” the agency reported. The government imposed the ban because of concerns about a possible food shortages and price rises ahead of the autumn and winter season. An informal ban on exports of farm produce has been in place since late June. By that point it was apparent the vegetable, fruit, potato, melon and gourd crops were large because of the warm spring, and prices at the markets fell to last year’s levels. However, due to the export ban, farmers were unable to sell the excess in neighbouring countries. NBCentralAsia observers in Uzbekistan say the ban on exports has meant farmers and traders are losing the income they would have got from selling food in neighbouring Central Asian states, where prices are higher. “We are forced to content ourselves with minimum earnings, when we had been expecting to earn more by selling vegetables, apricots, peaches, grapes and watermelons at markets in Kazakstan,” said one Uzbek vegetable grower. Official statistics indicate that of the ten million tons of fruit and vegetables grown in Uzbekistan every year, one third goes to Russia and Kazakstan.
Tatyana Yakimenko, who heads the customs revenues department for the South Kazakstan region, told NBCentralAsia that Uzbek imports account for almost a tenth of Kazakstan’s demand for vegetables. Uzbek traders have traditionally had a strong presence in the food markets of Kazakstan, where they can earn several times as much as they would at home. Kazakstan is expensive by Central Asian standards.
“Exports of meat and agricultural products from Uzbekistan are prohibited in an effort to fully satisfy domestic demand… such measures contribute to people’s welfare,” the agency reported. The government imposed the ban because of concerns about a possible food shortages and price rises ahead of the autumn and winter season. An informal ban on exports of farm produce has been in place since late June. By that point it was apparent the vegetable, fruit, potato, melon and gourd crops were large because of the warm spring, and prices at the markets fell to last year’s levels. However, due to the export ban, farmers were unable to sell the excess in neighbouring countries. NBCentralAsia observers in Uzbekistan say the ban on exports has meant farmers and traders are losing the income they would have got from selling food in neighbouring Central Asian states, where prices are higher. “We are forced to content ourselves with minimum earnings, when we had been expecting to earn more by selling vegetables, apricots, peaches, grapes and watermelons at markets in Kazakstan,” said one Uzbek vegetable grower. Official statistics indicate that of the ten million tons of fruit and vegetables grown in Uzbekistan every year, one third goes to Russia and Kazakstan.
Tatyana Yakimenko, who heads the customs revenues department for the South Kazakstan region, told NBCentralAsia that Uzbek imports account for almost a tenth of Kazakstan’s demand for vegetables. Uzbek traders have traditionally had a strong presence in the food markets of Kazakstan, where they can earn several times as much as they would at home. Kazakstan is expensive by Central Asian standards.
