Recent food price increases have become noticeable to the population of Kyrgyzstan and have sparked numerous discussions, especially in the context of the basic food basket. Mikhail Petrov, an expert from the analytical club "Singularis," asserts that to eliminate the price gap between farmers and the market, a state system of modern gas storage facilities accessible to all producers must be created.
- Why, for example, does potatoes that cost 20 soms for farmers end up priced at 50 soms in the market? Who is to blame for this: the farmers themselves, resellers, or the influence of imports? There is a concept of "shrinkage," which implies a loss of 15 to 25% of the product's weight, as well as the risk of contamination: potatoes can be affected by late blight, which previously had a negative impact on the sugar industry, - explains the expert.
According to Mikhail Petrov, the Soviet storage system in Kyrgyzstan has been destroyed, and as a result, there are no modern facilities for professional processing and sorting of products, leading to a 2-3 times increase in store prices.
- To store potatoes, it is necessary to use an airless space to prevent oxidation. Oxygen is replaced with nitrogen, and at temperatures between 3 and 6 degrees, losses can be avoided. If sorting facilities existed, the price of potatoes could be around 30 soms. Resellers also face losses at every stage due to the lack of a unified storage system, which increases sorting costs and labor expenses, - he adds.
The expert believes that over thirty years of independence, Kyrgyz farmers have earned respect, but it is not advisable to rely solely on private agro-corporations to solve the problem.
- I would not claim that agro-corporations are capable of handling this task. Often, large players seek to monopolize the market, which leads to price increases. A state regulatory system is necessary. The government should invest in the development of specialized gas storage facilities, rather than just building ordinary warehouses. This will help create a quality national product, saturate the market, and initiate mass exports, - summarizes Mikhail Petrov.
