Value Chains research report Tajikistan final - Microfinance Centre

Big traders purchase potato from commercial farmers who have scale of
production and village level small traders who generally functions like collector. These
traders are retailers of foodstuff and other goods of basic needs. However, big traders
are specialized vegetable traders who function for wholesale markets and deals in big
quantities. These traders generally sell there produce to the commission agents active
in the wholesale markets.
The market is characterized by a large number of middlemen.
Processing
Potatoes in Tajikistan are not processed into potato chips, starch or frozen peeled and
sliced potatoes (which are popular in Europe and Northern America). The reason is a
lack of cheap potatoes and investment.
Import and Export of Potatoes
Tajikistan consumes more potatoes than it produces. Large volumes of potatoes are
imported to Tajikistan every year. In the last three years the imports exceeded 25,700
tons p.a., going up to 27,500 tons in 2009. The main exporter of potatoes to Tajikistan is
Afghanistan, from where more than 90% of the imported product originates. Other large
importers include Russia and Iran.
Table 33: Import of potato, 2006-2010
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
000’ Total, 000’ Total, 000’ Total, 000’ Total, 000’ Total,
tons 000’ tons 000’ tons 000’ tons 000’ tons 000’
USD
USD USD USD USD
Total 11,5 1779 25,9 4262 17,7 3009 27,5 5274 25,7 4,4
import,
Include
Afghanistan 0,7 147 22,0 3673 16,9 2907 24,0 4874 22,2 2,6
Iran 5,7 590 0,6 60 2,7 273 0,3 84
Russia 5,1 1037 3,7 506 0,2 39 0,7 88 2,6 1069
Germany 0,1 215
Netherland 0,3 343
Source: State Statistic Agency of Tajikistan
It is a pleasure to see that our country is starting to import seed potatoes from Germany
and the Netherlands. The imports of seed potatoes from these two countries reached
489 tons in 2010, which is an equivalent of over 558,000 dollars.
Some scientists say that the shortage of potatoes in the country is caused by exports.
As a result, the President imposed a ban on export of potatoes, which has been in effect
since November 10, 2010. However, export volumes are miniscule, less than 1% of the
imports (see table below).
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