The Cabinet of Ministers, at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, submits for public discussion a draft resolution on imposing a temporary moratorium on the export of mineral fertilizers outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The document says that one of the main factors affecting crop yields is soil fertility. An effective method of increasing its fertility is introduction of optimal norms of mineral fertilizers.

Every year, nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers are imported to Kyrgyzstan, based on the needs and purchasing power of farmers.

According to the forecast, the total area under cultivation in 2023 will be 5,800 hectares more than in 2022. At the same time, the annual demand of the republic for mineral fertilizers next year will be 286,000 tons, which is 1,900 tons more than in 2022.

Every year, 30,000-40,000 tons of mineral fertilizers are imported into the country for spring field work. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and local farmers, in recent years, spontaneous groups of dealers have been created during the mineral fertilizer consumption season.

A particularly difficult situation with the supply of fertilizers arises by the beginning of spring field work, when a large volume of the strategic stock accumulated in the autumn-winter period is re-exported to Tajikistan.

It is specified that fertilizers are supplied to the Kyrgyz Republic from Uzbekistan under an agreement between the Governments. By the beginning of sowing work, by March 1, the strategic reserve should be at least 45,000-50,000 tons of fertilizers.

Such a delivery schedule should provide farmers with fertilizers in full, however, due to the free movement of goods to Tajikistan, fertilizers are not enough. Therefore, it was decided to impose a temporary ban on the export of fertilizers.