Last year, Tajikistan produced 989,000 tons of potatoes, which is 5,000 tons fewer than in 2019, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA).
The recommended annual per capita consumption of fresh potatoes in Tajikistan amounts to 92 kilograms.
The current population of Tajikistan is about 9,500,000. Consequently, Tajikistan’s annual requirements in potatoes are 874,000 tons.
Meanwhile, the real per capita consumption of fresh potatoes in Tajikistan is 130 kilograms. Therefore, Tajikistan’s annual requirements in potatoes are 1,235,994 tons.
To cover its requirements in potatoes, Tajikistan reportedly imports potatoes from Russia, Pakistan, China, and Uzbekistan.
The coronavirus crisis last year reportedly led to shortage of potatoes as borders were closed. As a result, potato prices have risen.
In 2020, potato prices reportedly rose 20.1 percent. In December, the current average price for one kilogram of potatoes was 3.50 somonis in Dushanbe and 4.00 somonis around the country. The lowest price for one kilogram of potatoes was reported in Rasht district (eastern Tajikistan) – 2.80 somonis, and the highest price for one kilogram of potatoes was reported in Murgab district (Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region) – 6.00 somonis.
