Deficient stocks and excessive markups drive vegetable prices up in KazakhstanKazakhstan’s Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Trade and Integration Minister Arman Shakkaliev discussed rising prices for staple products at a joint meeting, the Agriculture Ministry’s press service reported.Saparov noted that Kazakhstan generally produces sufficient quantities of staple goods for both domestic consumption and export."However, despite this, we observed a sharp increase in vegetable prices in early 2025, particularly during the off-season. Key factors include poor performance by stabilization funds in maintaining off-season reserves, lack of organized procurement of imported vegetables by agricultural cooperatives, and insufficient efforts by local governments to eliminate intermediaries. Steps must be taken to stabilize prices," the agriculture minister said.Deputy Agriculture Minister Yerbol Taszhyurekov and Deputy Trade Minister Aizhan Bizhanova added that insufficient vegetable stocks, inadequate early harvest contracting, and excessive retail markups contributed to the price hikes.Following the meeting, Saparov emphasized the need to expand potato cultivation, including in key grain-producing regions. He also instructed officials to ensure the timely procurement of necessary wheat and sugar supplies. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX