According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT), the Agricultural Input Price Index (Agricultural-GFE) increased by 133,41 percent on an annual basis in July. The annual increase in fertilizer, which is one of the most important expense items of the farmers, was 234,88 percent. Baki Remzi Suiçmez, President of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers of the Union of Turkish Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), said, “In an environment where the prices of fertilizer, diesel, seed, feed and medicine are constantly increasing, the cost of the farmer in the field naturally increases. While Agricultural PPI was 17 percent in 2020, that is, in the pandemic period, it became 142 percent in August. While the Agricultural Input Price Index was 6 percent in 2020, it became 133 percent in 2022. As long as the increase in fertilizer and animal feed continues, the increase in input prices will affect the Agricultural PPI. In an environment where there is 80 percent CPI and 90 percent food inflation, the farmer cannot make a profit, that is, this gap between PPI and CPI is closed, unless the Agricultural PPI increases.” Drawing attention to the necessity of planning, in order to get rid of the troubles of the farmer, “Medium-term, at least 5-year agricultural planning should be implemented throughout the country. Farmers should be supported in many fields such as fertilizer, diesel, irrigation, etc. If we cannot make a medium-term production plan, much more difficult days await us in the coming years,” Suiçmez added.
“WE CAN'T MAKE THE FARMERS DISSATISFY WITH PRODUCTION”
Baki Remzi Suiçmez, who stated that the farmer was not supported in purchasing prices as well as the increase in production costs, said, “Therefore, if we look at its sub-items as well as the general input price index and the inputs most used by the farmer, unfortunately we see that production is more expensive. Against these expensive production prices, we cannot explain the purchase prices at or below the cost level and make the farmer offended by the production. Agricultural PPI automatically triggers agricultural input price indexes. This situation will be reflected on the shelves in the future. The way of breaking this vicious circle is to facilitate production and reduce production costs.”
“DUE TO INCREASED COSTS, SUFFICIENT FERTILIZER CANNOT BE USED”
Stating that the farmer could not use enough fertilizer to his field due to the increasing costs, “The farmer could not use enough fertilizer this year. Therefore, all these are a factor in the decrease in yield. The farmer may face a fertilizer crisis. Even the figures of TURKSTAT confirm this. Agricultural Credit Cooperatives are instructed to reduce the prices and inflation on the shelves. What Agricultural Credit should do is to lower fertilizer prices and sell fertilizer to its partners and producers at low prices. Unfortunately, in addition to selling fertilizer to its partners at market prices, its subsidiary Gübretaş was also fined by the Competition Board,” Suiçmez added.