Farmers who rolled up their sleeves for agricultural production in Yozgat pointed out that the increase in diesel and fertilizer prices seriously increased farmers' production costs.
It was noted that at the beginning of the new season, farmers spent between 2,200 and 2,300 liras per decare just to plow their fields and sow seeds, and the costs increased by more than 100 percent compared to last year.
Süleyman Çatalyürek, who was the former President of Yozgat Chamber of Agriculture and engaged in farming and agricultural activities in Özlüce village, calculated the farmer's inputs and income item by item in the last three seasons, and explained that as a result, the farmer had to enter the season in debt.
Çatalyürek said:
"Last year, our farmer bought a ton of DAP fertilizer for an average of 22-24 liras. He also bought urea fertilizer for 16 thousand to 18 thousand liras. A tin of herbicide and its equivalents cost between 2 thousand liras and 2 thousand 500 liras on average. This goes for 100 decares. Our farmers planted 25 kilos of seeds per decare. We bought the seeds for 20 liras last year, this year It was 30 lira.
Last year we covered diesel with 38 lira, this year it is 102 lira. Last year, 80 percent of farmers were in debt to banks and Agricultural Credit. The reason is because our product had problems last year. While last year we sold grain for 13 lira, this year we sold it for 14, 15 lira. But the difference in diesel is obvious. And we got our money late, we didn't get it on time. "Although our product is good this year, our farmers are still troubled because the price is not good."
“THE FARMER WHO HAS NO DEBT TO ZIRAAT BANKASI AND TARIM KREDI IS POINTED WITH FINGERS FROM EVERY VILLAGE”
"The farmer from every village who has no debt to Ziraat Bank and Tarım Kredi is as big as the fingers of two hands. All the remaining money is converted into loans from Ziraat Bank and Tarım Kredi. They give cards from banks. Ziraat Bank does not give cash to us. Why doesn't it? Now, with cash money, I have the chance to buy diesel with a 5 percent discount.
But when we have a card, we can buy diesel with a deduction of 2 thousand lira, 3 thousand lira, 5 thousand lira from 100 thousand lira. We also make losses from there. We owe money to the bank. If they give us our money in cash, it would be better for us to pay them directly, without giving it to the fertilizer seller, pesticide seller, seed seller, diesel seller, or us, rather than cash. "No matter how you look at it, 5 percent is a plus for the bank and it's a problem for our farmers."
Stating that the productivity was high this year due to the rains, Çatalyürek argued that despite this, there would be a weakening in the plantings.
Çatalyürek said, "There are no 100 percent workers left. In world standards, in our country's norms, the average farmer cultivates a decare of land with 8-10 liters of diesel. How does it work? From plowing to harvest, a little is 8 liters, mostly 10 liters. He throws an average of 24 kilograms to 28 kilograms of seeds into the wheat. When it comes to spraying, the average cost is 20 lire, 2 thousand lira to 2 thousand lira with 18 liters of pesticide or equivalent pesticide." "He does the pesticide for 500 liras and then the cost of the combine harvester and the transportation to his home are all included," he said.
“OUR FARMER ENTERED THE SEASON IN DEBT”
Çatalyürek stated that the previous season was difficult throughout the country and said:
"As for this year, our product did not fall below 400 kilograms. The base is 400 kilograms, the ceiling is 800 kilograms, but our price is 14 thousand, we sold around 14 thousand 750. The general situation in grain in 2025 and 2026 is as follows; due to the rains, we had an income of 6 thousand 500, 7 thousand liras per decare. Our average expense was 2 thousand 500 liras. The farmer has money in his pocket." If we consider the 2026 and 2027 seasons, diesel fuel is 800 liras per decare, base fertilizer is 785 liras. This is the beginning of the work. Our current expenses are between 2 thousand 200 and 2 300 liras per decare. But we will spend green manure and spring fertilizer. In addition, we will do harvesting costs. There is a shipping fee and the price is not available.
We will complete this account next year. Our 2025 and 2026 net price; Our income is 7 thousand liras, our expenses are 2 thousand 500 liras. We have currently processed 60 percent of the 2026-2027 season. This is around 2 thousand 200-2 thousand 300 lira, excluding green manure, transportation, harvest and pesticide application. These will be announced in 2027. We will use these as spring fertilizers, it will appear in that account with the base price next year. Our farmer entered the season in debt. Last year's debt still continues. The price of agricultural inputs, for example fertilizer, increased by 100 percent. It exceeded 100 percent in diesel. "Anyway, the main items of the farmer are seeds, fertilizer, medicine and diesel."
