TMO's Product Purchase Prices Were Below Producers' Expectations

Seedless raisins are numbered according to characteristics such as color and quality. The majority of them are number 9 grapes. Producers have been waiting for the Soil Products Office (TMO) to announce the purchase price for days. The expected news came the other day. However, it caused great disappointment to the manufacturer.

According to the statement made by TMO, the purchase price of number 10 grapes is 100 lira, the purchase price of number 9 grapes is 95 lira, the price of number 8 grapes is 90 lira, and the price of number 7 grapes is 85 lira. Purchase prices remained below last year's prices. Last year's price for the size 9 product was 120 lira. This year it was 95 lira. Last year the price for the size 7 product was 100 lira, this year it is 85 lira. The price of the size 8 product was 110 lira last year, and this year it is 90 lira. Number 10 raisins, which cost 130 liras per kilo last year, will be purchased for 100 liras this year. While expecting a price of 150 lira for the number 9 product, the manufacturer, who encounters a price of 95 lira, is wondering what to do.

'BELOW THE PREVIOUS YEAR'

A significant part of grape production is carried out in Manisa. NEW Party Manisa Deputy Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu, who met with the producers, pointed out that the price of product number 9, which was 120 lira last year, was 95 lira this year, and said, "However, the price of the product was 100-120 lira the previous year. Currently, the price has been announced even lower than the previous year. The producer, who could buy 3 liters of diesel fuel for the product he sold the previous year, can now only buy 1 liter of diesel." Pointing out that TMO was too late to announce the price, Bakırlıoğlu said, "In the free market, purchases are made at prices much lower than these prices. The producer, who was in debt, had to sell the product to the merchant for 60-65 lira in order to pay off his debts. The price he received was between 50-55 lira. There is a serious problem. There is also a problem with the fresh product. While alcoholic products were sold for 18-20 lira, it is now 8 lira." spoke.

'FAR FAR FROM EXPECTATION'

Bakırlıoğlu emphasized that they had been calling on TMO to announce the prices since the beginning of the season, but they could not get them to listen, and the announced prices were far from expectations. Pointing out that there have been serious increases in costs and that diesel prices have increased by over 100 percent, Bakırlıoğlu pointed out that there have also been serious increases in the prices of fertilizers and medicines.

'THEY CONSENTED TO HAVE MALARIA BY SHOWING ME DEATH'

Stating that producers who are in debt have to sell their products to merchants for 60-65 liras, Bakırlıoğlu said:

"People sold goods at a loss. The government sat and watched while the citizens sold goods at a loss. This was a price that was announced too late and was far from expectations. It's like 'they showed people death in the free market, now they are making them accept malaria'. For some of the producers, there is no point in TMO announcing the price after this point. Because it has already sold its products at a low price. It has employed workers and has to pay them. It owes money to the bank, it has to pay."

'HE CANNOT SELL HIS TRACTOR!'

Bakırlıoğlu pointed out that there are producers who are considering selling their tractors to pay off their debts and said, "But they cannot sell it. Why? Because there is no buyer. Everyone has put their tractors up for sale."

PRICES ARE BELOW EXPECTATIONS

Purchasing prices of hazelnuts, wheat, barley and olive oil were also below the expectations of the producers. The farmer's expectation for hazelnuts was at least 300 lira per kilogram. However, TMO announced the purchase price of Giresun quality hazelnuts as 255 liras per kilogram, and the price of Levant quality hazelnuts as 250 liras per kilogram. The price announced by TMO for wheat was 16 thousand 500 liras per ton. However, producers were expecting a price of at least 20 thousand liras per ton. The announced price of wheat was below expectations. The purchase price of barley was determined as 12 thousand 750 lira per ton. However, the expectation for barley was at least 17 thousand liras.

The prices announced by TARIS for olive oil for the 2025-2026 season were later reduced by the government on the grounds of fighting inflation. The price was reduced from 320 lira to 290 lira.