Turkey has an “onion crisis”—and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is taking no prisoners.
Onions have become four times more expensive in the year to date and Erdogan, shedding no tears, has sternly warned that "there will be no compromise" if people are found hoarding the vegetable. He added: "Potato and onion stockpilers, fruit and vegetable stockpilers will pay the price."
Double-digit inflation running at a 15-year-high amid Turkey’s currency crisis is partly to blame for the soaring cost of onions, as is stockpiling. However, agricultural experts quoted by the BBC on November 27 said that there were many reasons pushing up the prices and that raids on warehouses would not solve the problem in the long run.
Meanwhile, the onion crisis has sparked joke upon joke on Turkish social media.
Referring to the crackdown, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu wrote: "Don't make the onion cry."
Iyi (Good) Party leader Meral Aksener chipped in: "Erdogan has declared the onion a terrorist organisation."
The government remains dead serious, peeling back the layers of the crisis. Inspectors discovered 50,000 tonnes of onions stockpiled in the Ankara district of Polatli, it said in its latest crisis update.
Don’t just follow the news—understand it.
The IntelliNews PRO service includes access to reports, exclusive market data, and more news that decision-makers care about. Stay ahead of the market with IntelliNews PRO.
Sign Up NowRelated Articles
Iran's Araghchi arrives in Turkey for talks on US military build-up as Ankara looks to act as mediator
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Istanbul on January 30 for meetings with Turkish officials to discuss regional issues amid what he described as serious challenges posed by US ... more
TPAO and ExxonMobil sign deal for offshore exploration
The Turkish Petroleum Corp. (TPAO) has formalised a strategic partnership with Esso Exploration International, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, marking a significant escalation in Türkiye’s ambitions ... more
Turkish LPG carrier set on fire during Russian drone attack
A Turkish LPG carrier docked at the port of Izmail, Ukraine, was hit by a Russian drone during an attack, sparking a fire on the vessel, which has now been extinguished. According to the Maritime ... more