Farmers in Kazakhstan are facing a growing agricultural crisis, with massive onion surpluses left unsold and rotting in warehouses despite rock-bottom prices.

Producers are unable to sell their harvest even at around 30 tenge per kilogram, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The oversupply has pushed many farmers to the brink, raising concerns about financial losses and potential reduction in crop planting in the next planting season.

“We’re seeing profits shrink dramatically - sometimes we’re working almost without income,” said farmer Syrgabai Merlisov, pointing to rising costs for seeds, fuel, and labor that are no longer covered by market prices.

Experts warn that such crises recur regularly due to a lack of coordinated planning. Analyst Kirill Pavlov stressed the need for closer cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and regional authorities to better balance supply and demand.

Officials from the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration say retail chains are open to working with local producers, but only if pricing remains competitive. “If our product isn’t exported, it means it’s not competitive,” Deputy Chair of the Trade Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kristina Kremer said.

Meanwhile, the Kazakh Association of Farmers has called for a unified system - from crop planning to logistics and distribution - to prevent future oversupply.