The producer complains about not being able to pay for their labor and the consumer not being able to buy it. The President of the Turkey Agricultural Association (TZD), Hüseyin Demirtaş, said that farmers had difficulties in paying their debts and that they could not benefit from the support packages for Covid-19, demanding that an urgent "aid package" be prepared for the agricultural sector.
In recent years, farmers who had to leave agriculture due to the unavoidable increase in input costs and the fact that the revenue obtained did not even cover the cost were added to those who had to quit due to the epidemic. With the addition of farmers who fall into the networks of banks and agricultural lending institutions, the escape from agriculture accelerated.
THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONSUMER ARE NOT SATISFIED
When the disruption in production started to be reflected in the prices, it was also a dream to consume vegetables and fruits cheaply in Turkey, which is an "agricultural country" for citizens. Despite all these factors, it is astonished that marketers or markets are shown to be responsible for high prices. "Agriculture gives alarm" warnings of sector representatives and farmers are for some reason ignored.
IMPORT PROBLEMS IN AGRICULTURE ARE GROWING
Turkey Agriculturists Association Chairman Huseyin Demirtas, "fuel oil and fertilizer support of price increases in the face of general inflation on the rise in the prices of agricultural inputs is inadequate and watch," he said.
Demirtaş, "While providing a price reduction by speeding up the imports of agricultural products with zero customs is only beneficial for a temporary period, it increases the problem permanently by destroying domestic production. Foreign agricultural product suppliers, which initially entered the market with cheap prices as domestic production lost the chance to compete, increase the prices as they wish. "This phenomenon has affected almost all agricultural input and product prices, from fertilizer and feed prices to sunflower oil prices," he said.
Turkey Agriculturists Association (TZD) Chairman Hüseyin Demirtaş, in a written statement, stated that the oil and fertilizer supports were insufficient in the face of price increases and the increase in the prices of agricultural inputs was above the general inflation.
"As the food inflation exceeds the general inflation level, speeding up the imports of zero-duty agricultural products eliminates the ability of the producer to compete with imported products. While providing a price reduction in this way is only beneficial for a temporary period, it destroys domestic production and increases the problem permanently. Foreign agricultural product suppliers, which initially entered the market with cheap prices as domestic production lost the chance to compete, increase the prices as they wish. This phenomenon has affected almost all agricultural input and product prices, from fertilizer and feed prices to sunflower oil prices."
"DROUGHT AND RAINING AFFECT THE PRODUCTION NEGATIVELY"
Demirtaş pointed out that the country was also negatively affected by climate changes due to global warming and that wheat, barley and other cereals could not develop due to insufficient rainfall, and that the rainfall that started at the end of January harmed the development process of the plant if it was excessive.
Pointing out that farmers are having difficulties in paying their debts due to negativities, Demirtaş asked for an urgent solution to the farmers' debts. Saying that farmers cannot benefit from the support packages for Covid-19, Demirtaş said, "The voice of the farmer should be heard and an urgent" aid package "should be prepared for the agricultural sector, which has been ignored in the economy support packages until now.