In India, onion prices have recently caused concern among the population due to rising costs during inflation. Onions have been an integral part of the kitchen table for many centuries, adding flavor to any dish, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian, and enhancing the taste of chicken when mixed with potatoes.
Since the topic of onions is actively discussed across the country, a study was conducted on countries that might compete with Indians in the consumption of this product. The results were unexpected: Tajikistan, a country with a population of about 11 million people, leads in global onion consumption. Thus, interest in onions in this small country exceeds the interest in India, despite the current price increases for them in India.
Questions arise regarding the reasons for the high cost of onions and the significance of this vegetable in the diet of Tajikistani residents, as well as whether India is among the world's biggest onion lovers.
According to data from Helgi Library, in 2021, Tajikistan ranked first globally in per capita onion consumption. Among 160 countries, the annual per capita onion consumption in Tajikistan was 56.8 kilograms. Niger ranked second with a consumption of 49.5 kilograms, and Kazakhstan was third with 43.0 kilograms. Other countries listed include Albania (39.3 kg per capita), Algeria (36.0 kg per capita), and Senegal (31.1 kg per capita).
In 2021, per capita onion consumption in India was 16.3 kilograms, placing the country 30th out of 156 countries. This means that although Indians may be big onion lovers, many countries surpass them in per capita consumption. Interestingly, per capita onion consumption in Tajikistan was approximately 3.7 times higher than in India; if one person in India consumed an average of 16.3 kg of onions per year, this amount approached 60 kg in Tajikistan.
Thus, onions are not only a star of Indian cuisine but also have a very strong presence in the food culture of some Central Asian countries.
Looking at the culinary traditions of Tajikistan, it is clear that onions are used not only for making stir-fries. They are an important part of many traditional dishes. In particular, in the popular Central Asian dish, plov, onions are used along with rice, meat, and carrots. Onions are widely used in numerous soups, stews, sauces, bread, and meat dishes. Since rice and other grains in the country are imported and expensive, people use more onions to improve the taste and volume of food.
Considering the country's population, each Tajik citizen consumes an average of one medium or large onion daily. The historical connection with onions spans 7000 years, as onions are one of the oldest cultivated crops, grown for at least 7000 years. It is believed that its origin is linked to the region where Tajikistan is located today. Therefore, the attachment of Tajiks to onions is deeply connected to their land and long-standing heritage.
In the challenging mountainous climate, onions have proven to be an indispensable and resilient crop for farmers. They can be stored for a long time without spoiling and are easy to transport. This ensures their availability year-round and makes them essential for preserving the taste and color of food.
This interest in onions in Tajikistan is not waning; in recent years, there has been an acceleration in its cultivation and production. Only in the Yakhun region of Tajikistan, agricultural land has increased by over 1100 hectares in two years, leading to a production of up to 222,000 tons. This clearly demonstrates that the unique link between food, culture, and climate in this Central Asian country will be maintained.
When looking at the entire world, the average per capita onion consumption in 2021 was 12.1 kilograms. Compared to this figure, India's figure (16.3 kg) is above the global average, but Tajikistan's figure significantly exceeds this average, being approximately five times higher. It is important to distinguish between total onion consumption and per capita consumption. Due to its large population and large production, the overall demand for onions in India is very high, but when it comes to how much onion one person consumes on average, India was not first in the world in 2021, ranking 30th.