This situation, which directly affected the sunflower oil prices, made our country dependent on sunflower imports. The leading names of the sector, on the other hand, state that our lands are fertile and that the problem can be solved with the support of the state.
The problem is clear, the recipe is clear. The subject is looking at the will to be put forth.
The customs duty on imports of crude sunflower oil was zeroed last year in order to prevent the rise in the rapidly increasing prices of liquid sunflower oil.
Despite the abundance of fertile lands, sunflower production, like many agricultural products, does not meet the needs of Turkey due to wrong agricultural policies.
Despite the production cost, due to the lack of government support, half of the need for sunflower, which is not the production choice of the farmer, is imported. As such, the direction of import-dependent sunflower oil is also towards the price hike.
ONLY HALF OF THE SUNFLOWER NEED IS MEETED FROM INSIDE
Şafak Kırbiç, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Trakya Birlik, one of the leading sunflower producers of our country, stated that Turkey has the capacity to meet its sunflower needs.
Kırbiç stated that the problem can be overcome with the support of the state and that they work every year to increase sunflower production.
"Sunflower cannot be produced in sufficient quantity in our country. We produce between 55 and 65 percent of the annual need. We aim to produce all of the country's sunflower needs. There is no problem in sunflower production in Thrace, yields are very high in this region. We can increase production in different regions as well. How do these happen? In some inputs, support is made. It is necessary to increase the premium per ton of sunflower produced to make it more attractive," he said.
Trakya Birlik, which was established in 1966 by Babaeski, Edirne and Lüleburgaz oilseeds agricultural sales cooperatives, has shown a rapid and stable development since its foundation years.
The number of cooperatives, which was 3 at the establishment of Trakya Birlik, increased to 48 in the Marmara, Aegean and Central Anatolia regions with the addition of new ones. Again, the number of partners in the establishment, which was 2,103, increased to over 40,000. Trakya Birlik sells an average of 30 to 50 percent of the sunflower produced in the country annually. The Union produced 136,443 tons of refined oil and 9,110 tons of margarine in the 2020/2021 business year in its 2 oil factories, where 1300 people work.
“BIRLIK IS THE LEADER IN TURKEY IN THE OIL MARKET”
Şafak Kırbiç, Chairman of the Board of Trakya Birlik, said that the union operates in 13 provinces. Indicating that the Union has carried out important works with its partners, Kırbiç said, "Trakya Birlik is the sector leader that trades more than 20 percent of the sunflower produced in Turkey, is the leader in the oil market in Turkey, and has products in one of every 5 households."
Kırbic stated that there was a decrease in productivity due to drought in 2021.
"However, overall production was high. We believe that the yield will increase this year. Sunflower prices also went up. Hopefully, prices will reach a level that will satisfy the farmer in the coming periods," he added.