Businesses face heavy losses as tons of potatoes perish at Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border

At the Saryagash station in Kazakhstan, 43 wagons loaded with vegetables were stranded due to prolonged phytosanitary inspections at the border. As a result, the produce froze and began to rot, KTK reports.

According to business owners, the cargo was sold to Uzbekistan in mid-January, and all necessary documents were completed before the export ban was introduced. However, the train was held at the border for an inspection that lasted more than 10 days. During this period, the potatoes in the wagons froze, and after thawing, they began to spoil.

"The potatoes have rotted, and water is already leaking. Each wagon contains 68 tons, but now the produce is unfit even for livestock feed," said one of the entrepreneurs.
The local administration offered to buy the spoiled goods at half price, but the business owners refused, stating that it would not cover their losses.

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture stated that the inspection has been completed and there are no longer any obstacles to crossing the border.
Representatives of five companies that suffered losses intend to take legal action against the officials responsible for the delay.

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