According to a statement from Bursa Trade Exchange Association responsible for Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Board Member and Bursa Commodity Exchange President Özer Matlı, Council President Murat Ulku Karakus chaired done online at the meeting, the new type of coronavirus outbreak period, food prices He stated that it increased not only in Turkey but all over the world.
Stating that seasonal effects and increases in input costs in Turkey are effective in increasing prices, Matlı made the following assessment:
"As a result, products such as vegetables, fruits, oil and pulses were significantly increased. Unfair price increases should undoubtedly be fought against, but the main reasons should not be ignored. Increasing commodity prices in the world, printing of money by world central banks, excessive stocking of countries, increased supply-demand imbalance due to drought, additional costs due to logistics, packaging and recovery participation share caused serious price increases in agricultural products by 30 percent to 100 percent."
LONG-TERM POLICIES NECESSARY INSTEAD OF 'SAVE THE DAY' POLICY
Matlı stated that the price of corn, which was around 180 dollars in July, is close to 300 dollars today, while the price of sunflower seeds is expected to be 2 thousand 200 TL at the beginning of the season, the price of the blend is 3 thousand 800-4 thousand TL.
"For this reason, what we need to do first is to create production planning for the solution of our current problems and, as a result, long-term agricultural policies instead of producing solutions that will save the day," he added.
SUGGESTIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE CENTRAL BANK AND MINISTRIES
Matlı stated that the solution proposals from all sector stakeholders will be submitted to the TOBB administration in a report to be forwarded to the Central Bank and relevant ministries, and said:
"In order to increase agricultural production and make it efficient, which will prevent the imbalance in food prices, first of all, we have our suggestions that include a series of measures such as the development of good agricultural practices, the Special Consumption Tax in agricultural production, especially the Special Consumption Tax in input costs, especially in diesel, fertilizer and medicine, and the reduction of the Value Added Tax rate in foodstuffs. We will continue our efforts to solve the problems with the meetings to be held in the coming days, by conveying to the Central Bank and relevant ministries."