THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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July 2026…
Harun Öztürk, Vice-President of the Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association, stated that payment terms in agriculture had been extended to up to 18 months, noting that this was putting the sector under considerable strain and added that the sector’s financing model needed to be reviewed.
Harun Öztürk, Vice-President of the Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association (BAİB) and General Manager of fertiliser producer and exporter Makro Gübre AŞ, emphasised that the real crisis in agriculture lies not in production but in financing.
Explaining that he has been involved in the agricultural sector for many years, Öztürk revealed that in Türkiye today, seedlings, seeds, fertilisers, agricultural pesticides, irrigation systems and other agricultural inputs are sold on payment terms of 8, 10, 12 or even 15–18 months, a situation which has left the sector in a very difficult position.
‘This is not trade. This is the private sector taking on the financing of agriculture. Long repayment terms erode capital and slow down investment. They increase costs, amplify risk and, ultimately, become a burden on the farmer. Today, thousands of firms in the agricultural supply chain are forced to operate more like banks than producers. Companies that should be channelling their capital into production, technology, R&D and exports are turning into financial institutions waiting for payments. This is not sustainable,” Öztürk said.
Stating that the future of agriculture now necessitates not only a focus on subsidies, prices and yields, but also a thorough examination of the sector’s financing model, Öztürk continued:
“Because without a robust financing infrastructure, production will not boost, investment will not accelerate, exports will not grow and farmers will not be able to make a profit. If we wish to preserve Türkiye’s agricultural production capacity, we must now relieve the private sector of the burden of financing agriculture. This is a strategic necessity not only for the sector but also for our country’s food security, competitiveness and export prospects. The future of agriculture depends as much on the fertility of the soil as it does on the sustainability of its financing.”
Underlining that the time has come to recognise this reality, Harun Öztürk added, “There is a situation of hardship and this hardship must be swiftly resolved. The financial burden on agriculture must be lifted from the shoulders of the private sector. A robust agricultural financing system must be established. Affordable credit mechanisms must be strengthened. Credit insurance must be made more widespread. Financial instruments that share risk must be developed.”
By Fikri Cinokur,
Source: ekonomigazetesi.com
