Grape producers in Manisa's Sarıgöl district are suffering greatly due to low purchase prices and increasing costs. Sarıgöl Mayor Tahsin Akdeniz visited the vineyards and drew attention to the difficult situation of the farmers and called for an urgent solution to the authorities.
Stating that the vineyard growers and farmers are in great despair, Mayor Akdeniz stated that the producers are now cutting the grapes they harvested instead of selling them. Emphasizing that the 3-4 lira prices offered by the companies purchasing Sumalik do not even cover the daily wages of the workers, Akdeniz said, "Farmers do not want to give their products to these companies because they do not save their workers." It was stated that the producers had to pay the workers a daily wage just for dropping the grapes on the ground.
CALL FOR A SOLUTION TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE
Akdeniz, who rebelled against the situation by showing the crops spilled on the ground, called out to President Erdoğan and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı with the words, "Hear our voice, save our farmers from this disgrace." Reminding that grapes thrown on the ground are a great blessing, Mayor Akdeniz expressed his reaction by saying, "Which conscience, which heart can stand this? Find a solution to this." He also criticized the company owners who gave low prices and warned, "You will not be able to find these blessings tomorrow."
Calling on Manisa's 10 deputies, regardless of party, for the solution of the problem, Mayor Akdeniz said, "I am calling out to all 10 of our deputies, regardless of party. Come, I will host you in my district in the best possible way. Let's go and tour the vineyards, see the disgrace of the vinedressers and farmers with your own eyes. I am waiting for you all in Sarıgöl."
Emphasizing that Sultaniye seedless grapes are grown on 110 thousand decares of Sarıgöl's total 190 thousand decare land and that the district is the "apple of the eye" of Manisa, Mayor Akdeniz stated that this year the farmer made a loss from the vineyards that he cares for day and night as if they were his children.
"COSTS HAVE TRIPLED, FARMER CANNOT PAY THEIR DEBT"
Stating that the costs of diesel fuel, pesticides and labor have tripled compared to last year, Akdeniz revealed the gravity of the situation by saying, "Dear Minister of Agriculture, Dear President; if you do not help us this year, we are bankrupt." Stating that the producers have become unable to pay their debts, Akdeniz demanded that farmers' debts should be postponed without interest for at least 4-5 years, not 1 year.
PRICE REQUESTS: 15 TL FOR SUMA, 25-30 TL FOR TABLE.
President Akdeniz reacted to the price uncertainty in the market and asked the authorities to implement an urgent base price. Stating that the base price of wine (suma) grapes should not be below 15 TL, Akdeniz requested that exporting companies be given instructions not to purchase fresh table grapes below 25-30 TL. He also drew attention to the high TARSİM insurance premiums of 32 TL and emphasized that these premiums should be reduced by taking wine grape prices into consideration in order for the farmers to survive.
THE PRODUCER REBELLED: WE CANNOT EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN
During the visit, a female producer complained to Mayor Akdeniz, stating that diesel fuel costs 100 TL and that the costs increased by one hundred percent in six months, and said, "Wine grapes, which were 20 TL last year, dropped to 4 TL this year." The producer said that they worked in the vineyard for 12 months without even having time to cook at home, but they were not rewarded for their labor, and complained that they could not even send one of their children to school.
Another manufacturer stated that when he sold his product last year, he was defrauded with a fake check and 3.5 million lira was lost because they had no guarantee and asked for assurance and solution from the authorities.
