Currently, the price of potatoes in the regions fluctuates between 20–30 soms. Despite the availability of the product and demand, the connection between the producer and the consumer remains quite fragile. Former head of the ayil okmotu Akylbek Dononbaev believes that the state should take a more active role in this process rather than staying on the sidelines. He emphasizes that the main task of a farmer is to work in the field, not to wait endlessly in the market to sell their harvest.
According to Akylbek Shimeevich, a farmer should focus on growing potatoes, while the state's task is to create conditions for the effective sale of products both domestically and abroad. "A farmer does not dream of spending days at the market trying to sell their goods," he adds.
Dononbaev proposes to create a system of state procurement to address the issue. The essence is to buy vegetables directly from farmers and sell them with a small markup of 10–15% through social networks. As a successful example, he mentions the "Eurasia" stores that are already operating in Bishkek.
“Our customers are diverse: some are looking for more affordable products just to make ends meet, while others are willing to pay a high price for exotic items. Therefore, selling through state networks or 'Eurasia' stores can significantly help those who count every som. Moreover, 'Eurasia' stores continue to expand,” notes the expert.
However, to ensure successful sales, it is also necessary to address the issue of crop storage. The existing old vegetable storage facilities have fallen into disrepair, and modern warehouses are only accessible to large agribusinesses. Dononbaev supports the initiative of economist Mikhail Petrov to create a network of gas storage facilities in Kyrgyzstan.
“Small farmers do not have access to affordable storage. Large companies can afford warehouses, but what about dacha owners or local residents? Some store their harvest 'the old-fashioned way' until spring, while others do not. Quality standards remain relevant, so the country needs systematic work and various modern solutions for storage,” emphasizes Dononbaev.
In addition, he insists on the need to bring back municipal markets to the regions with free access for producers, which would allow ordinary farmers to sell their products in cities without unnecessary costs.
