The monitoring was organized at the direction of Erlis Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Agriculture. The main task of the raids was to identify unscrupulous intermediaries who might pass off Chinese potatoes as local ones. Specialists confirmed the presence of potatoes from China on the shelves; however, no facts of sales under the local brand were found. The agency noted that imports are carried out in accordance with Kyrgyzstan's commitments to the World Trade Organization, which also creates opportunities for the export of Kyrgyz potatoes to China.
Currently, the retail price for imported potatoes is 38–40 soms per kilogram, while the local product is valued in the range of 42–44 soms. The wholesale price for domestic potatoes fluctuates between 35 and 40 soms. Some farmers, as specialists note, are holding back their potato stocks, waiting for prices to rise. However, the veterinary control warns that early potatoes from the Aravan district will soon start arriving on the market, which may lead to a decrease in prices. Prolonged storage under such conditions risks spoiling the product and causing significant financial losses for producers.
The veterinary and phytosanitary control service urged farmers to sell their products promptly and to adequately perceive the current market conditions. It was also emphasized that the responsibility for any losses due to the spoilage of unsold potatoes rests solely with agricultural producers. Government bodies will continue to monitor price stability and transparency in trade in the country's markets in anticipation of the active start of spring fieldwork.
