The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu made some visits and openings in Kırklareli.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the opening of the Commodity Exchange Cold Storage Warehouse after visiting Kırklareli Governor Birol Ekici.
Emphasizing that as TOBB, they have taken important steps for the development of the country's agricultural markets, Hisarcıklıoğlu said following words:
"We have implemented TMO-TOBB LİDAŞ for the safe storage of agricultural products. Thus, by taking the first step in our country, we pioneered the increase in licensed warehouse investments of the private sector. We made a 60 thousand-ton warehouse investment in Babaeski. Thanks to the licensed warehouse, we facilitated producers' access to finance, as well as safe storage, and enabled industrialists to easily access raw materials. We established the TÜRİB - Product Specialization Exchange on the system that forms the basis of the licensed warehouse. Thus, we started the commodity exchange in agricultural products. Now, we ensure that the prices of the products we produce are determined in a healthier way. Let's always keep in mind that; Agriculture and animal husbandry are sectors that will never lose their importance. We have to consume in order to live, and the agriculture and livestock sector will meet this. Look, the world population has reached 8 billion, the middle class in the world is growing more and more every day. As it grows, it consumes more. On the other hand, we saw the importance of being a self-sufficient country during the pandemic period. That's why the work you do here is of strategic importance. We can never neglect agriculture and animal husbandry. On the other hand, our costs have increased considerably recently. We are meeting with our relevant ministers to take measures on these issues. Together, I hope we will overcome this turbulent period."
“WORLD'S MOST STRATEGIC SECTOR AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK”
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), "If you say, which is the most strategic sector in the world, the sector that will earn the most; agriculture and livestock. Let's always keep in mind that; Agriculture and animal husbandry are sectors that will never lose their importance. We have to consume in order to live, and the agriculture and livestock sector will meet this. When the IMF came to me in 2004, it said 'get out of the agriculture and livestock sector," he said.
Despite the increasing population of Turkey, wheat production did not increase and decreased over the years. A significant portion of the need for basic products such as sunflower, corn and cotton is met by imports.
WE ARE DEPENDENT ON BRAZIL AND URUGUAY IN RED MEAT
The lack of adequate improvement studies and the high cost of feed inputs undermine the production in livestock, while increasing the import item. Breeding females are mainly imported from European countries, while livestock are imported from Brazil and Uruguay. Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Poland take the lead in red meat imports.