Vendors at the Osh market explained the price increase by the shortage of local cucumbers during the winter period and dependence on imported supplies. "Since the beginning of the second week of March, prices have started to decrease, and they may continue to fall further," one of the sellers reported, adding that cucumbers are currently being supplied from Uzbekistan.
Price Comparison with December
Comparing the current prices at the Osh market with December of last year, it can be noted that only carrots have become cheaper — from 50 to 45 soms. The price of cabbage remained unchanged at 50 soms. All other vegetables, on the contrary, have become more expensive.The largest price increase is observed in sweet peppers. If in December they could be bought for 280 soms, now they cost 350 soms in the market, and in one of the large hypermarkets — up to 430 soms. Tomatoes have also risen in price by 50 soms to 200. In supermarkets, their price ranges from 255 to 395 soms depending on the variety.
Onions, potatoes, and broccoli have increased in price by 10–20 soms, with broccoli available in some capital stores even at a price of 255 soms. Vegetable prices vary depending on the place of sale.
Prospects for the Near Future
Despite the rise in prices for tomatoes and peppers, the question remains about the reasons for the price increases of other vegetables and the possible shortage of some of them.The Ministry of Water Resources and Agriculture reported that Kyrgyzstan fully meets its vegetable needs (the self-sufficiency level is 177%) and even exports part of its production. At the same time, the country imports certain vegetables from neighboring states.
"There is no need to worry. Yes, there is some price increase, but this phenomenon is typical for this time of year as stocks are depleting. Overall, by the end of 2025, we should not face any problems, and for 2026, we expect a good harvest. In particular, there is a forecast for overproduction of potatoes. There may be a shortage of some products during the season, but imports will help compensate for it," the ministry stated.
It is worth noting that in 2025, a difficult situation arose when farmers stored local potatoes in warehouses, preferring to sell them in Uzbekistan for a higher price. This led to a rise in prices within the country, and Kyrgyzstan had to import potatoes from China to stabilize the situation.
