Drawing attention to the data announced by the Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Turkey (TZOB), agriculture writer Gazi Kutlu stated that fertilizer prices increased between 14 percent and 70 percent, diesel prices increased by 71 percent, and pesticide prices increased by 28 percent.
Stating that these cost increases will have an impact especially on products that come to the table in winter, Kutlu stated that the production costs of vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, radishes, beets, cauliflower, leeks and red cabbage have increased.
INCREASE PRESSURE ON WINTER VEGETABLES
Kutlu stated that the rise in costs puts serious pressure on the producers and said, "As we enter the winter season, I can already say that the prices of winter vegetables will hurt your pocket."
Pointing out that not only vegetable production but also the new agricultural season has started with high costs, Kutlu said that the new production season has started as of October 1 and winter grain planting has started.
Kutlu stated that this production period was also carried out with increasing input costs, and pointed out that the price increase, especially in base fertilizers, was over 50 percent.
INFLATION DROPPED BELOW 30 PERCENT BUT…
Arguing that the decline in food inflation did not change the picture in the citizens' kitchen, Kutlu said that the data announced by TUIK showed that the high increase in food prices continued despite the abundance in the summer season.
Kutlu said, "Although the food inflation announced by TUIK has a downward trend on an annual basis, it could only fall to 28 percent even in the abundance of the summer season. Now, we will be forced to live with this high rate of food inflation again in the winter season."
Kutlu evaluated the upcoming period as "In short, a dark winter awaits us all."
800 BILLION FUND PROFIT, 200 BILLION FARMER SUPPORT
Kutlu also drew attention to the resource problem in agricultural policies and pointed out the difference between the claims in the funding crisis and the agricultural support budget.
Kutlu said, "On the one hand, those who took between 800 billion and 1 trillion liras in fund scams, and on the other hand, a support of around 200 billion liras to be given to 2.4 million farmers. Everyone should take the measure from here."
Kutlu stated that failure to support farmers adequately will make the problem in food prices permanent and said, "As long as farmers are not supported, we will continue to live with high food inflation for a long time."
“FOOD INFLATION WILL NOT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE”
Stating that agricultural support should be increased in an economic crisis environment, Kutlu said that low support budgets will not solve the problem of food prices.
Kutlu said, "In an environment where there is an economic crisis, while there are people who pay interest and damage the country by profiteering, if you try to support farmers with these low agricultural support budgets, the result will be obvious from the beginning."
According to Kutlu, it is not possible to permanently reduce consumer prices without reducing the producer's costs. Kutlu said, "No one should expect the food inflation fire to go out anytime soon," and added that current policies squeeze both producers and consumers.
WHY DID HAZELNUT AND PADDY PRODUCERS GO ON THE STREET?
Referring to the protests carried out by hazelnut and paddy producers in the Black Sea Region in recent days, Kutlu said that the main problem of the producers is not being paid for their labor.
Kutlu said, "Our farmers, who cannot earn money from what they produce, know that they will go into the new production season adding to their debt."
Drawing attention to the situation in hazelnuts and paddy, Kutlu said, "We are the ones who produce hazelnuts, but we are the ones who cannot earn. Paddy production is not enough, imports are made. If a good price is not given, imports will increase exponentially."
FARMER SELLS CHEAP, CITIZENS BUY EXPENSIVELY
Stating that the main contradiction in agricultural policy emerges here, Kutlu said that the producer's selling at low prices does not translate into cheapness to the consumer.
