Farmers in Adana, one of Turkey's important citrus production centers, are experiencing one of the most difficult periods in their history.
While lemon and tangerine remained in the gardens, the producers could not even cover their costs.
Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture President Mehmet Akın Doğan stated that the crisis in agriculture is getting deeper and addressed the authorities:
"Our farmers have neither the time nor the strength to endure. If support is not given today, we will face much bigger problems tomorrow."
Mehmet Akın Doğan, President of Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, explained the danger of bankruptcy in agriculture to Cumhuriyet by revealing the economic bottleneck experienced by the producers.
'FARMERS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY!'
Stating that there are serious marketing problems in Early Mayer lemon and Primasol, Miho Wase, Okitsu and Early tangerine varieties, Doğan said:
"Our farmers are in a very difficult situation. Our products that cannot be harvested or sold are left in the branch. Some of our varieties can be sold at a low price, while others can only be sold at cost. This situation has brought our farmers to the brink of bankruptcy."
'IF SUPPORT IS DELAYED, IT WILL BENEFIT THE EXPORTER, NOT THE FARMER'
Calling for urgent support to the government, Doğan emphasized that the Support and Price Stabilization Fund (DFIF) support should be announced without delay:
"If DFIF support is announced on time, it will also reflect on our farmers. However, if it is announced late, it will only benefit the exporter and our producers will not benefit from it."
Stating that high transportation costs also negatively affect exports, Doğan requested support to reduce TIR freight charges. Stating that exporters are having difficulty finding trucks, Doğan said that by solving these problems, the remaining products in the branch can be delivered to foreign markets.
'AT LEAST 5 LIRA PER KIGH SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PRODUCT LEFT ON THE BRANCH'
Stating that the producer's losses should be compensated, Doğan requested an on-site inspection through the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) and the determination of the amount of unsold products.
Doğan warned, "The remaining products should be identified and at least 5 lira per kilogram of cash aid should be provided to our producers. Otherwise, much more difficult days are ahead."
'THE FARMER IS SELLING HIS FIELD, HIS TRACTOR, BUT NO BUYERS!'
Drawing attention to the danger of economic collapse in the agricultural sector, Doğan said that the producers are now trying to survive by selling their assets, but they cannot find a buyer even for this.
"Today, our farmers want to sell their fields, vineyards, gardens and tractors at a very low price, but there are no buyers. Because our farmers cannot earn money and cannot access credit."
Stating that high interest rates make production unsustainable, Doğan said, "Even if the policy interest is 36 percent, investments cannot be made in private banks with interest rates above 50 percent. However, our producers, who have to pay their debts, use loans with these interest rates out of necessity."
'HOW WILL PRODUCTION CONTINUE IF DEBTS ARE NOT POSTPONED?'
Emphasizing that farmers cannot pay their debts to banks, Doğan requested that Ziraat Bank loans be postponed without new debts.
Stating that overdue, overdue and upcoming loan debts should be postponed without applying the "close-open" method, Doğan called for the producer not to be burdened with a new debt burden.
'THE FARMER DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO STAND!'
Pointing out that the crisis in agriculture threatens not only today's production but also the production of the future, Doğan addressed the authorities with the following words:
"The visible village does not want a guide. The agricultural sector is really in a very difficult situation. I call out to all authorities on behalf of our farmers: The producer has no time or strength to endure. If the necessary support is not given today, we will face much bigger problems tomorrow. Our farmers want to produce, but they need urgent support to continue production."
