Prices for potatoes and carrots in Pavlodar region will be held back until the new harvest

In order to provide the domestic market with cheaper vegetables, the network of retail outlets operating under a memorandum with local producers was expanded in the region. The number of stores selling social potatoes and carrots has been increased from 33 to 76.

The situation in the market was discussed during the meeting of Akim of Pavlodar region Abylkair Skakov with large vegetable growers. At the beginning of the meeting, the head of the region said that the decision to ban the export of potatoes and carrots from the territory of Kazakhstan, taken at the beginning of the year, was revised. Now producers can export potatoes according to the approved quota, and carrots - without restrictions. However, this, according to the akim, in no case should lead to the fact that the domestic market will be left without affordable vegetables from the borscht basket.

- Today there is no reason to increase prices for potatoes and carrots, - he said. - These vegetables are in stock and there are enough warehouses for their storage. Our producers need to maintain the volume of agricultural products needed for domestic consumption until March-April, when the early harvest starts. First of all, this is necessary for socially unprotected categories of the population.

Also, the head of the region drew attention to the weak implementation of potatoes and carrots in the framework of a memorandum with local producers. According to this agreement, last year Pavlodar farmers pledged 30,000 tons of potatoes and more than 6,000 tons of carrots, the selling price of which does not exceed 95 tenge per kilogram. However, in four months only 10% of this volume was sold in Pavlodar region. Abylkair Skakov considered that the reason for this was poorly established logistics and a small number of outlets through which cheaper vegetables are sold.

- We are already working on these issues, - said Nurbolat Makashev, Head of the Department of Agriculture. - Now, in addition to social stores, we supply potatoes and carrots under the memorandum to large retail chains Small, Inmart, Greenwich and Leader. In general, the number of outlets with which we cooperate has grown from 33 to 76. The daily supply of vegetables has increased from 15 to 25 tons.

Akim recalled that entrepreneurs who receive cheaper products should not sell them to the side. Otherwise, businessmen face liability.

 

Press service of the akim of Pavlodar region

 

Photo by Valery Bugaev