Uzbekistan Targets 4.5 Million-Tonne Potato Harvest as Planting Area Expands
Uzbekistan aims to harvest 4.5 million tonnes of potatoes in 2026 after expanding planted area by 46,000 hectares. Larger output, growing reserves and lower imports are improving domestic availability, while market prices have fallen.
Planting expansion supports higher output target
Uzbekistan expects its potato harvest to reach 4.5 million tonnes in 2026 as the country expands cultivation, increases off-season reserves and seeks to reduce dependence on imports. The Ministry of Agriculture said the target is 360,000 tonnes above the 2025 harvest of 4.1 million tonnes, according to Kursiv Uzbekistan.
Potatoes were planted on 238,000 hectares in 2026, an increase of 46,000 hectares from the previous year. Farmers and agricultural enterprises accounted for 74,400 hectares, while household plots and small farms represented another 164,200 hectares. The figures show that household and small-scale production remains central to national supply, even as the government pursues a broader production target.
Late crop and reserves cover seasonal demand
Uzbekistan harvested 2.2 million tonnes in the first half of 2026. After grain and pulse harvesting, growers planted potatoes on an additional 71,000 hectares. The Ministry of Agriculture expects these fields to produce around 1.2 million tonnes in November, making the late crop an important component of the annual target and winter availability.
Authorities and producers have also prepared 400,000 tonnes for the off-season domestic market. Cold-storage facilities hold 216,000 tonnes, while farms store a further 184,000 tonnes. An additional reserve of 262,000 tonnes is planned for the 2026–2027 winter and spring season. These inventories are intended to smooth seasonal supply and limit shortages between harvest periods.
Prices fall as imports decline
Average potato prices at dehkan markets fell alongside the increase in production. Kursiv Uzbekistan reported an average of 4,169 Uzbek soums per kilogram in 2026, compared with 5,717 soums in 2025. Current wholesale prices at farms and dehkan households are around 2,500–2,800 soums per kilogram. The decline benefits consumers and processors but may increase pressure on growers whose costs do not fall at the same pace.
Uzbekistan nevertheless remains a substantial potato importer. Imports reached 419,900 tonnes in January–July 2026, down by 53,600 tonnes from the same period a year earlier. Their value declined by $21.5 million. Exports remained much smaller: the country shipped 7,200 tonnes worth $1.5 million in January–August 2026. Compared with the corresponding period of 2025, export volume increased by 5,700 tonnes and revenue rose by $1 million. The gap between imports and exports indicates that expanded production and storage will initially matter more for import substitution and domestic price stability than for large-scale export growth.
