Tashkent to Boost Food Procurement From AfghanistanTashkent to Boost Food Procurement From Afghanistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Representatives from Tashkent have discussed purchasing agricultural products with authorities in the Afghan provinces of Bamyan and Herat to strengthen food security and maintain price stability in capital markets.

Talks were held on 25 July 2026 during a working visit to Afghanistan by representatives of Tashkent's city and district administrations, alongside members of Uzbekistan's business community, according to the press service of the Tashkent city administration.

Meeting participants also reviewed prospects for opening trade houses and expanding bilateral trade. Following the talks, the parties reached mutually beneficial agreements, the capital's administration reported.

Increasing food supplies from Afghanistan will serve as one direction of cooperation. In parallel, Uzbekistan plans to expand its export potential in the food, textile, electrical engineering, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, as well as automotive manufacturing and other sectors.

In Bamyan, the Uzbek side separately discussed developing potato production. In the spring, representatives of both countries agreed to study the possibility of organizing industrial cultivation of the crop using a cluster approach.

As part of a pilot project, 44 tonnes of Fontane seed potatoes were planted on a 17-hectare plot. High yields are expected, according to the Afghan side.

Additionally, the parties reviewed a previously announced project for Uzbekistan to purchase up to 300,000 tonnes of Afghan potatoes per year.

Implementation of this initiative is intended to promote agricultural cooperation between the two countries, participants noted during the meeting.