Like organizations and companies across Turkey, the market has seen business shrivel dramatically as a result of a currency crisis in which the lira has lost as much as 48% of its value in the past two months alone.

The market in the mainly Kurdish southeastern province of Diyarbakır enjoyed buoyant trade in its early years but declined in the last two, particularly in the last six months as the lira crash has sent prices soaring and ravaged household budgets.

"Sales have come to a complete standstill. In the past, customers used to buy two kilos of carrots. Now they come and buy three carrots," said Tunç, 46, a mother of three who helped found the market for fruits, vegetables and handicrafts.

The lira crisis was prompted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's push for lower interest rates despite a sharp increase in inflation and warnings from economists.