Kazakh farmers are in a difficult situation caused by an oversupply of onions. Significant volumes of this product remain unsold and are starting to spoil in storage. The price drop to a historical minimum is not helping to find buyers.
According to local media, the current price of onions is only 30 tenge per kilogram, but demand remains at zero. Farmers express concerns about possible bankruptcy and a reduction in planting areas for the next season.
Syrygbay Merlisov, an agrarian, claims that incomes have fallen to a critical level. He emphasizes that the costs of cultivation are constantly rising, while current market prices do not cover these costs. Many farmers are forced to operate at a loss.
Experts point to the systemic nature of the problem. Analyst Kirill Pavlov believes that the lack of clear coordination in the agricultural sector is the main reason. When onion prices rise, producers increase their plantings, leading to overproduction and a price collapse. He emphasizes the importance of government regulation in this area.
The Ministry of Trade and Integration focuses on issues of competitiveness. Department representative Kristina Kremer reports that retail chains are ready to purchase local products if they offer favorable conditions. The inability to sell goods for export may indicate their low competitiveness in international markets.
Experts are confident that solving this problem requires close cooperation among government agencies. This applies to all stages—from planning plantings to organizing logistics and product sales. Meanwhile, record harvests bring farmers nothing but financial losses.
