THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
National Cotton Council President Fevzi Çondur: Rising Input Costs Are Challenging Producers
Stating that the rising costs of basic inputs faced by cotton producers, Çondur said, “Surged prices of production items such as fertilizer, diesel fuel, seeds and pesticides are making it difficult for our farmers to maintain their production activities. This is causing producers to abandon cotton cultivation and leading to a decrease in production. Reducing input costs with permanent and sustainable solutions and supporting our producers is essential.”
Emphasizing that price difference payment support plays a critical role in production planning for cotton producers, he noted, “Producers want to know the amount of support and the announcement date before the start of the cotton planting season. The costs of key inputs like fertilizer, diesel fuel and seeds are rather high and starting production without prior planning poses a significant risk. This uncertainty boosts the risk of small-scale farmers, in particular, abandoning production altogether.”
“Therefore, clearly and predictably announcing the difference payment support at the beginning of the season allows producers to base their investment decisions on solid foundations and enhances production sustainability,” he explained.
Ziraat Bank Subsidized Credit Limits Remain Insufficient…
National Cotton Council President Fevzi Çondur pointed out that access to financing is a determining factor in the production process and stressed the need to increase Ziraat Bank’s subsidized credit limits in line with current economic conditions.
“Current credit limits fall short of rising input costs and production expenses and cannot fully meet the financial needs of cotton producers,” he reminded.
Çondur highlighted that this situation causes producers to face difficulties in obtaining financing and that providing producers with access to more comprehensive financing at affordable interest rates is crucial for the sustainability of agricultural production.
Risk of Market Loss in the Textile and Ready-to-Wear Sector…
Underlining that the textile and ready-to-wear sector, which is Türkiye’s leading sector and provides employment for hundreds of thousands of people, is directly linked to cotton, he noted, “This sector accounts for approximately 30 percent of Turkish exports. However recent cost increases have led industrialists to shift to countries with lower labour and energy costs. Rhe urgent need to implement new support policies to protect the production chain and maintain competitiveness.”
Indicating that the National Cotton Council will continue to seek solutions in collaboration with all stakeholders in the sector, he concluded, “Cotton production is of strategic importance to our country. A strong agricultural-industrial policy that will ensure and support the sustainability of our producers, traders and industrialists is now essential.”
