Kazakh farmers struggle to sell onions amid overproductionKazakhstan's farmers are grappling with an onion surplus, as harvest volumes soar to three times the current demand, reported by the Ministry of Agriculture."In light of reports concerning onion harvest losses, the Ministry of Agriculture asserts its commitment to supporting farmers and ensuring ample supply for the nation. However, the current onion production exceeds demand by 200%,” the Ministry said.The country's annual harvest stands at 1.1 million tonnes, while consumption averages 315,000 tonnes, primarily from the Zhambyl, Almaty, and Turkestan regions.Despite sufficient domestic production, onion prices surged in previous years, especially off-season, after farmers sold to intermediaries. However, prices stabilized at 132-134 tenge per kg by the beginning of 2023's harvesting and dropped further to 107-114 tenge per kg by early 2024.Since autumn 2023, onion demand has sharply declined, driving prices down to 15-20 tenge per kg due to oversupply. As of March 16, farmers still have approximately 160,000 tonnes of unsold onions, worsened by logistical hurdles in shipping through Russia to the Baltic states and Georgia.Warmer weather exacerbating storage challenges due to lack of refrigerated warehouses, the Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to facilitate onion sales by social-entrepreneurial corporations and retail outlets. Additionally, discussions with Pakistan and exploration of new markets are underway to address the surplus. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX