Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci stated that Turkish AKP government had imported 4 thousand tons of potatoes from Syria, which is in a war since 2011.
Ankara correspondingly imported potatoes from Syrian soil under the control of Turkish forces on condition that import rate will not exceed 1% of Turkey’s demand for potato.
"We will not allow speculations in any field of operation," Zeybekci said in a press conference.
Potato and onion had become more expensive both monthly and annually, as the food prices are on the rise in general across the country in recent weeks in June.
"Field crops are normally 1,5 Turkish lira [$0,325]; but when they are put on the market, the prices of products suddenly increase to 7-8 Turkish lira [$1,51-$73]. These price booms are due to money lenders and speculators. We have two methods to fight against this situation: To activate our national law system related to speculations on agricultural products. And to enable other alternatives that is the import mechanism, which works much faster and accurate, destroying that margin," Zeybekçi also pointed out.
In Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey, the cost of one kilogram of onion had risen 212% to 6,5 Turkish lira ($1,4) over the past month. One kilo of onion was sold for around 1,3 Turkish lira [$0,282] last June. Potato prices also rose to 6 Turkish lira ($1,29) in June, a 94 percent month-on-month increase. One kilo of potato was around 1,5 Turkish lira [$0,325] last June.
'DARK HANDS BEHIND SKYROCKETING POTATO PRICES'
Turkey’s Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba said on June 22 that there are "dark hands" behind the dramatic rise in basic food products, including potato.
"Only two months ago producers had complained us about the potato price, which was 50 Turkish kuruş (cents) per kilogram then. I am surprised that the price is now 6 Turkish Liras. There are dark hands behind this rise and, God willing, we will destroy those hands," Fakıbaba said.
