The per capita consumption of dairy products in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan remains below the standards accepted in Central Asian countries.

High levels of food self-sufficiency are observed in the southern countries of the region, which traditionally produce significant volumes of fruits and vegetables.

However, despite these positive indicators, the region still faces significant challenges with the shortage of certain types of products. Specifically, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are experiencing shortages of vegetable oils, grains, and sugar. Kazakhstan also faces challenges in insufficient production of sugar, as well as fruits and berries.

Differences in food production and consumption between the countries of the region remain significant. According to FAO data, the caloric value of average diets also varies: in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, this indicator is lower than in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where it exceeds 2,800 kcal/day, comparable to the levels seen in developed countries.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, despite progress in ensuring food security, remain dependent on food imports and are net importers. While Kazakhstan is the only net exporter of food products in terms of caloric value, in recent years, Central Asia as a whole remains a food-deficient region.

Country-Specific Food Independence Criteria:

• Kazakhstan: Food independence is considered not achieved if annual production of essential food items is less than 80% of the population's annual needs, based on physiological consumption norms.
• Kyrgyzstan: The condition for independence fr om imported food supplies is their low share in consumption. The threshold for food independence is set at 80%.
• Tajikistan: The strategy aims to increase food self-sufficiency to 70% by 2030 and reduce the share of household spending on food to 40% of total income.
• Uzbekistan: Food independence is considered achieved if the annual production of essential food items in the country is at least 80% of the population's annual needs, based on physiological consumption norms.

Imbalances in diet persist across all countries in the region, wh ere cheaper plant-based foods dominate. Per capita consumption of certain types of food remains below established norms, particularly in the following areas:

• Kazakhstan: Dairy and meat products, eggs, fruits and berries, vegetables, and grain products.
• Kyrgyzstan: Meat and fish products, eggs, vegetable oil.
• Tajikistan: Dairy and meat products, fruits and berries, potatoes, vegetable oil.

According to analysts, Kazakhstan is expected to be the main producer of surplus food products up to 2035, primarily due to increased grain production. The potential of other countries in the region is significantly limited by the scarcity of both land and water resources, as well as a more challenging overall economic situation. As a result, these countries will be forced to import increasingly larger volumes of essential food products.

Analysts at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) believe that ensuring national food security should and will remain the top priority of agri-food policies in Central Asian countries. Expanding agricultural exports can be considered an additional task, the solution of which will allow better utilization of existing resource potential without compromising food security and will positively impact overall economic dynamics and the socio-economic situation in rural areas.