THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
Ercan Korkmaz, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Izmir Commodity Exchange, in his written statement, said that in the last 10 years, the amount of pulses production and consumption in our country has increased.
“Consumption, which was 1.12 million tonnes in 2012, soared by 9 percent to 1.21 million tonnes in 2022 due to the growing population. In 2022, there was an increase of 21 percent in Türkiye’s legume supply and 39 percent in total use,” he said.
“In Türkiye, there has been a significant spike in the production and consumption of pulses over the past decade. The consumption of pulses, which was 1.12 million tonnes in 2012, has surged by 9 percent to reach 1.21 million tonnes in 2022. This spike can be attributed to the growing population. Additionally, there has been a 21 percent increase in the supply of legumes and a 39 percent increase in their overall usage in the country in 2022,” he noted.
Pointing out that however, despite the surge in consumption, the production of pulses has not kept pace with the population growth, leading to an increase in imports, he explained, “In 2012, the total value of pulses imports was 215 million dollars, whereas in 2022, this figure rose to 674 million dollars. This rise in imports has made pulses prices in Türkiye highly susceptible to developments in foreign markets. As a result, any price hikes in international markets have a significant impact on prices in the domestic market. Due to the hike in global prices, prices of pulses have also risen in Türkiye. Consequently, the country has become one of the top importers of pulses in the world, driven by both domestic demand and its role as a major player in the international trade of pulses.”
“Despite the reliance on imports, Türkiye holds the second position in terms of cultivation areas for legumes, after cereals. Chickpeas, lentils, and beans make up 98.3 percent of the total legume production in Türkiye. The country ranks third in the world in terms of chickpea production, with 580 thousand tonnes and fourth in terms of lentil production, with 445 thousand tonnes. Additionally, Türkiye stands at the 22nd position globally for bean production, with 270 thousand tonnes. These three crops, chickpeas, lentils and beans, are among the most important pulses in Türkiye and enjoy considerable significance in the global market,” he added.
As Izmir Commodity Exchange, we are trying to carry out awareness activities in order to contribute to World Pulses Day. In 2017, we published the book ‘Legume Dishes in the Aegean from Past to Present’ in order to raise awareness and show the importance of legume products in our region. As Izmir Commodity Exchange, we would like to express once again on 10 February World Pulses Day that we should work continuously to raise public awareness about the importance of pulses with similar studies,” he concluded…
