The key facts

  • The first batch of potatoes from Bamyan province has arrived in Uzbekistan — the Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported
  • The project started in May: the Fontane variety from Uzbekistan was planted on 17 hectares in three zones of the province
  • The yield was 40–45 tonnes per hectare; in May, potential of up to 50,000 tonnes annually was discussed, with a maximum of 300,000 tonnes

From planting in May to the first shipment

The first batch of potatoes grown in Afghanistan's Bamyan province specifically for the Uzbek market has arrived in Uzbekistan, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported (Spot.uz). The project began in May at the initiative of the Uzbek side: seed potatoes of the Fontane variety from Uzbekistan were planted on 17 hectares of land in the Shahidan and Faladi districts and in the central part of the province. The variety was chosen for its high yield, suitability for simplified cultivation and export readiness.

How the cultivation was organized

Sowing, crop care and harvesting were carried out jointly with Afghan farmers, while Uzbek specialists regularly monitored the condition of the crops. The yield amounted to 40–45 tonnes per hectare. The Chamber attributed the result to the quality of the planting material and Bamyan's favorable natural and climatic conditions. After harvesting, the potatoes were sorted, packaged and delivered to Uzbekistan.

What was discussed at the project's launch

In May, CCI Chairman Davron Vahabov discussed potato cultivation under a cluster system with Bamyan governor Qori Gul Haydar Shafak. Uzbekistan proposed supplying seeds in exchange for a guaranteed purchase of part of the harvest. The initiative's impact was then estimated at a minimum of 50,000 tonnes of potatoes annually, with a maximum of 300,000 tonnes. The parties also spoke about joint fruit-growing projects, the creation of a fertilizer storage facility and the training of Afghan farmers.

Context of the negotiations

In July, a delegation from Tashkent held talks with representatives of the Afghan provinces of Bamyan and Herat on purchasing agricultural products to ensure stable prices in the capital's markets; plans to open trade houses were also considered at the time. Separately, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari introduced new fees for freight transport to Afghanistan — Spot wrote about this earlier. The first arriving batch shows that the May agreements have moved from plans to actual deliveries, although the project's scale so far corresponds to the initial 17 hectares rather than the stated estimates of tens of thousands of tonnes.