The country's livestock is dying. While dairy farming was rapidly being completed due to low milk prices, the country began to pay the bill for record imports in 2018 with the increase in meat prices in the fattening phase. While no imports were seen during the month of Ramadan, the preliminary preparations for an intensive import after Ramadan have already begun. President Erdoğan's prediction that animals from Directorate General of Agricultural Enterprises (TİGEM) farms would be slaughtered and people would consume cheap meat proved to be unfounded. While many farms of TİGEM were evacuated due to Brucella disease, it turned out that the number of livestock was not at the desired level. While it is noted that TİGEM's farms can contain around 1,000 livestock, even at the utmost, it is emphasized that it is impossible to meet the demand of this number.
THE PRESIDENT WILL ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS, INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF WRONG DOINGS
On the other hand, due to the fact that the carcass slaughter prices applied by the Meat and Dairy Institution (ESK) are far below the market prices, the animals are not cut off at the ESK by the breeders. It is emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture is working on this issue and that the results of the study conducted this week will be announced as good news by President Erdogan. Accordingly, a significant increase is expected in the carcass cutting prices of the ESK.
CARCASS CUTTING PRICES OF ‘ESK’ WILL BE INCREASED THIS WEEK
By increasing the carcass slaughtering prices of the ESK, the slaughter of animals procured from domestic producers will be emphasized. While the carcass slaughter price is expected to be announced between 80 and 90 Turkish Liras (TL), the ESK will sell the meat of the animals it will slaughter at this price to the citizens at a low price. The loss is planned to be covered by the Treasury. While the General Directorate of Livestock determines the number of livestock in Turkey, it is noted that a positive report will be submitted to the Presidency on this issue. However, the biggest logjam is that the data and the country's realities do not match.
TURKEY IS DRAGGED ON TOWARDS A MEAT CRISIS
Government will try to get ahead of meat prices with palliative measures in Ramadan. However, the fact that Turkey is rapidly drifting towards a meat crisis is clearly evident. That's why the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is also working underhand for butchery and livestock imports and meat imports. According to this, prices have even been taken from some companies for butchery and livestock imports from Colombia and Europe. It is recorded that some companies give prices of 2,95 dollars from Colombia and 3,10 dollars from Europe for butchery animals, and these prices are on the desk of Minister Vahit Kirişçi. Among the prices given to Minister Kirişçi, livestock prices are at the level of 3,60 dollars.
THE GOVERNMENT'S WHOLE POLICY IN LIVESTOCK HAS WORKED FOR THE IMPORT LOBBY
While the country's livestock came to the fore with the increase in meat prices, in fact, Turkey was brought to these points by consciously. While record import of the history of the Republic in 2018 dealt a big blow to the breeders, it dragged the country to a point where animal husbandry could not be done. While those responsible for this import, which caused billion-dollar damage to the country's treasury, should be prosecuted in the Supreme Court, the fact that no one was held accountable also reveals for whom the record imports were made.
CITIZENS HAVE CONSUMED LOW QUALITY MEAT, A FEW COMPANIES HAVE TURNED THE CORNER
While all the projects implemented to make the citizens consume cheap meat do not benefit the citizens, it is significant that certain segments make big profits from these projects. In the 'Cheap Meat Project' implemented in the past years, the citizens had to consume low-quality meat with high fat content within the scope of the project, while the companies that carried out the project and were at the head of the meat lobby made great profits. For example, it was revealed that these companies deceived the citizens and gave the female beef to the markets instead of the male beef.
THE PROJECT OF EATING CHEAP MEAT TO THE CITIZEN MEANS IMPORT PREPARATION
At this point we came, the result of the work that was started to make the citizens consume cheap meat in Ramadan with President Erdogan's instruction will also come to rent. A perception will be created as if trying to find a so-called solution to the problems experienced in meat prices, with this perception, the questioning of the wrong policies made so far will be prevented and the infrastructure of imports will be prepared.
MILK PRICES REVEAL THE GOVERNMENT'S INSINCERITY
The insincerity of the government in its livestock policies is clearly demonstrated by the raw milk prices that have been put into practice since April 1. As of April 1, raw milk prices were increased from 4,7 Turkish Liras (TL) to 5,7 TL, while raw milk premium supports were increased from 20 kurus to 1 TL. In other words, with the support, the milk producer will receive 6,7 liras for 1 liter of milk produced. However, the fact that the supports will be paid in the nearest 6-7 months will not be a balm for any of the producers, who are having troubled days against fodder prices.
MILK MANUFACTURER "RUNS ON EMPTY"!
The March month raw milk production cost calculation of the National Milk Council (USK) clearly revealed what a blow dealt to livestock in the country. According to USK's March cost calculation, the producer produces 1 liter of raw milk for 5,66 TL. In other words, the milk producer sells the milk for 5,7 TL, which it costs for 5,66 TL. The fact that the producer sells the milk produced with great effort without making any profit reveals the point of animal husbandry in the country. The fact that this cost calculation was put forward by the National Milk Council, which is tasked with protecting the milk producer, shows itself as a bitter confession.