Economic problems that cause serious crises in many sectors in Turkey are making production increasingly difficult in the agriculture and livestock sector.
Farmers and livestock producers, who had a hard time due to the wrong policies applied in agriculture and animal husbandry, could not bear the increasing costs.
Especially against this negative picture affecting milk production, many farmers in Anatolia had to slaughter their milk-producing animals.
Dairy producers, who have been in a serious crisis since 2018, expect the state to determine the feed-milk parity in a balanced way.
Farmer Mahmut Gencer, who gave information to the Milli Gazete about the problems of animal production in Turkey, talked about the crisis in the agriculture and livestock sector.
"Producers can't keep up with rising costs"
Farmer Mahmut Gencer stated that there has been a serious crisis in the agriculture and livestock sector since 2018.
"Those who tried to save the day by selling 3-5 cows before, cannot survive and leave the industry because they are stuck in debt. Imagine that the wall of the dam collapsed, this is how the sector empties like water. Just as the dam is without water, the industry is left without animals. The milk producer has no hope, the producer has become unable to keep up with the increasing costs. No one could see beyond a year, not a month, or even a week. Everyone was thinking, 'How much hikes to be applied for food, diesel and fertilizer tomorrow'. The feed, which was previously raised by 2-3 TL per month, has now increased by 20-30 TL in recent weeks," he said.
"Milk gets a raise once a year, but animal feed gets numerously in a year"
Mahmut Gencer drew attention to the increase in animal feed prices.
"With the additional hikes since December 2021, the sack of oath has now reached 300 TL and new hikes are coming next week. Probably, when the increase in raw milk comes, the feed will increase again. My guess is that the sack of bait will cost 350 TL. Because this cycle is unfailing, if there is a raise in milk, there is a raise in food, but the increase in feed is always at the forefront. However, milk is raised once a year, and food is increased innumerable times a year. A council called the National Dairy Council was established for the price of raw milk. In this council, the table consists of 4 legs, the feed industry, the dairy industry, someone representing the producer and bureaucrats. The task of this council is to protect the producer. However, for some reason, we could not see any benefit from this council," he added.
“THIS IS HOW THE MANUFACTURER IS CRUSHED”
Mahmut Gencer stated that the feed-milk parity could not be balanced.
"Former Minister Bekir Pakdemirli argued that milk/feed parity should be 1.30 throughout his term. In other words, it was said that if 1.3 kg of feed can be obtained with 1 liter of milk, the producer can carry out this business in a stable manner. But unfortunately, even according to USK data, the average parity was 1.03 in 2021. Even with the milk hike in December, the parity could only be 1.17. Well, why was the loss of 27 percent in this parity, which was 1.03 throughout the year, on the shoulders of the producers? Is the producer solely responsible for this inflation/crisis? Today the pair is 0.80, 1.30 where 0.80 where. Which tradesmen, artisans, industrialists, feeders and dairymen in Turkey do business with a loss of 40 percent? This is how the producer is oppressed," he said.