Onions are becoming a worldwide concern due to a supply shortage and high prices. Disastrous floods in Pakistan, freezing temperatures in Central Asia, and the war in Ukraine have contributed to the sharp price rise.
The global food supply crisis is taking an alarming turn and endangering the availability of essential nutrients worldwide. Filipinos and Moroccans are feeling the effects of rising onion prices. Some change their recipes to reduce the number of onions they use, while others substitute them with alternative vegetables. The situation is no different for countries like the Czech Republic, where onion prices increase, leading to inflation and prompting the government to ensure supplies.
Although wheat and grain prices have decreased recently, a combination of factors has affected the vegetable market, which is the foundation of healthy diets. Onions are in high demand, and their scarcity has increased inflation rates, with some countries halting exports, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Morocco. The Philippines has investigated possible cartels, while countries like the Czech Republic are partially dependent on imports and cannot cover their entire onion consumption.
According to the chairman of the Czech Fruit Growers Union, the problems in the African vegetable market may also affect the Czech market. However, empty onion shelves in domestic stores are not yet an imminent threat. The United Nations (UN) and the World Bank (WB) have recently warned about shortages in other essential vegetables, such as carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, and apples. British supermarkets have already restricted purchases of certain fruits and vegetables due to empty shelves caused by poor yields in southern Spain and northern Africa.
The onion shortage and price hikes are a global concern. The shortage of onions, combined with other factors, is affecting the vegetable market worldwide and endangering the availability of essential nutrients. While countries are taking measures to ensure supply, the situation is not expected to improve in the short term. The UN and the WB have warned that other essential vegetables, such as carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, and apples, may also be in short supply.