Al-Bab – Walid al-Idlibi

The city of al-Bab in eastern Aleppo is witnessing fluctuations in the prices of vegetables and fruits, with daily increases and decreases. For instance, the price of a single type can rise from five Turkish lira to 20 lira from one day to the next.

Shop owners interviewed by Enab Baladi attributed the reasons to the entry of goods into the region either from Turkey or through smuggling operations from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian regime, alongside the control of some traders, which has exposed local farmers to financial losses.

This recurring situation each season leaves residents feeling they are the biggest losers, as they are consumers and the final link in the purchasing process, demanding the imposition of effective monitoring to regulate the prices of vegetables and fruits.

Exhausted consumers and farmers

The fluctuations in price have burdened the residents and pushed them to reduce the quantities they buy, in addition to farmers who sell their vegetables in the al-Hal popular market every day at differing prices.

Raslan, a resident of al-Bab (married with three children), has had to reduce the quantities of vegetables and fruits he purchases, opting to buy his needs every three days. He mentioned that he now buys half a kilogram of tomatoes instead of two kilograms and, at times, postpones buying vegetables until prices stabilize.

Raslan told Enab Baladi that the prices in their normal state do not match his daily income, which does not exceed 100 Turkish lira (three dollars) from his job as a driver transporting household goods outside al-Bab. He expressed his frustration with the price fluctuations.

In shops and on fruit stands, the price of a kilogram of tomatoes is 24 Turkish lira, cucumbers are 26 lira, Syrian potatoes are 19 lira, Turkish potatoes are 12 lira, zucchini is 20 lira, and onions are 9 lira.

As for fruits, the price of a kilogram of yellow apples is 26 Turkish lira, red apples are 23 lira, French pomegranates are 17 lira, and local pomegranates are 8 lira, all subject to daily changes.

Turkish goods, supply and demand

A farmer from the village of al-Ayoun near Mare’ in northern Aleppo told Enab Baladi that the price instability is due to the entrance of Turkish goods into the region, such as potatoes, which cost farmers $250 per ton, while the Turkish variety sells in markets between $175 and $220 per ton.

Meanwhile, farmer Abu Fahd from al-Bab has not planted his 35-dunum vegetable field this year because of the annual price fluctuations at harvest time. He cited a loss of approximately $2,200 per season, stating that the region feels like a big prison and that there is neglect in supporting farmers.

Hamid al-Rajab, the head of the al-Hal Market Union in al-Bab, told Enab Baladi that the main reason for the price differences in vegetables and fruits is the entry of quantities from smuggling crossings and the arrival of certain Turkish varieties.

He noted that some varieties fluctuate in price according to supply and demand, such as potatoes and tomatoes, adding that the goods with high supply see their prices drop, while those with reduced quantities have their prices rise.

Price setting via Facebook

Samir al-Muhammad, the director of the supply department in al-Bab, informed Enab Baladi that the department is currently studying the idea of setting prices for vegetables and fruits from the central al-Hal market, which includes establishing a “reasonable” profit margin based on the invoice and type.

He pointed out that the supply and internal trade department will estimate the profit margin by announcing the selling prices on the department’s Facebook page.

He added that if there is a failure to comply with the determined prices, and no price lists are available in the shops, violators will face a financial penalty estimated at 150 Turkish lira (for two violations).

If the violation of selling at prices other than the announced prices is repeated and reaches three violations within 30 days from the date of the first violation, a letter will be sent to the local council proposing a financial fine independent of the value of the financial penalty for the violation, or a three-day closure of the shop.

Prices in the al-Hal market

The quantities of vegetables and fruits entering the central al-Hal market in al-Bab range between 1,000 and 1,500 tons daily, roughly equivalent to 40 refrigerator trucks crossing the borders from Turkish territory, according to the head of the al-Hal market union who spoke to Enab Baladi.

Goods are sold in dollars and per ton, then the vendors transport them to shops for retail sale.