Why did the price of onions increase? The Ministry responds

In recent days, various reports and social media posts have highlighted a rise in the price of early-ripening onions in Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Agriculture has issued an official response addressing the situation.

According to the ministry, the sharp decline in onion prices in May–June 2024—by 500 to 1,000 sums—led to a reduction in the area of land planted with onions this year. Specifically, onion cultivation decreased by 5,000 hectares in Jizzakh, 6,700 hectares in Navoi, 8,400 hectares in Namangan, 14,000 hectares in Samarkand, 2,600 hectares in Surkhandarya, 2,800 hectares in Syrdarya, 2,600 hectares in Tashkent, and 7,600 hectares in Khorezm.

Despite the reduced cultivation, Uzbekistan is expected to produce 1.412 million tons of onions this year—12,000 tons more than in 2024.

For context, on April 1, 2024, the price of fresh onions ranged from 5,000 to 6,000 sums per kilogram, dropping to 3,000–3,500 sums by April 7. In contrast, on April 1 this year, the price was 7,000–8,000 sums, which has since decreased to 4,000–5,000 sums.

Additionally, of the 121,000 tons of onions stored from the 2024 harvest, 75,000 tons have already been released to the domestic market, with the remaining 46,000 tons currently being sold at 2,000–3,000 sums per kilogram.

Looking ahead, the price of onions is expected to drop to 2,000–2,500 sums per kilogram starting April 15. About 70,000 tons of onions are projected to ripen in the second and third decades of April, with over 90,000 tons expected in May.

“The Ministry of Agriculture reminds citizens that seasonal price increases for agricultural products during early ripening stages are a temporary phenomenon and tend to stabilize,” the statement said.

The ministry also noted that in certain regions, farmers are using advanced agrotechnical methods—which require higher investment—to harvest and deliver onions to markets 10–15 days earlier than usual. This early supply creates unique demand conditions that influence pricing according to market principles.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture urges citizens not to pay attention to unverified information circulating on social media. We call on bloggers, journalists, and social media influencers to rely solely on official sources and avoid spreading unsubstantiated claims lacking scientific or economic justification,” the ministry concluded.