THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Republican People’s Party (CHP) Niğde MP Ömer Fethi Gürer, referring to the evaluations of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), brought up the possible effects of rising food prices in the world on Türkiye.
Gürer said, “There have been serious hikes in food prices worldwide in recent months. The reflections of this situation on Türkiye will be inevitable.”
‘WE ARE EXPORTERS IN SOME PRODUCTS, BUT WE ARE DEPENDENT ON IMPORTS IN BASIC FOODSTUFFS’
Evaluating the statements of Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı that Türkiye is an agricultural exporter, Gürer emphasised that Türkiye is a strong exporter of products such as hazelnuts, apricots, citrus fruits and tomatoes, but cannot achieve the same success in basic foodstuffs.
“Türkiye has become dependent on imports in many basic products such as sunflower, wheat and lentils,” Gürer noted.
INSUFFICIENCY ALARM IN SUNFLOWER
Stating that the country’s self-sufficiency rate in sunflower production is only 52 percent, Gürer explained, “We consume as much as we produce, but we import the same amount to meet our consumption. We largely meet our vegetable oil needs from abroad.”
WHEAT AND COTTON IMPORTS ATTRACT ATTENTION
Gürer pointed out that imports continue despite over 90 percent sufficiency in products such as wheat and barley and indicated that cotton imports reached 912 thousand tonnes. Gürer described this picture as ‘a fact that clearly reveals Türkiye.’
‘IMPORTS INCREASE SHELF PRICES’
Gürer reminded that imported products enter the country at high costs and this is directly reflected on shelf prices:
“Food price hikes across the world will further strain Türkiye, which is dependent on imports. Without providing adequate support to producers and reducing input costs, it is not possible for prices to reflect positively on consumers. Hikes in food prices will impose heavy burdens on consumers.”
‘THE INDUSTRIALIST GAINS, THE FARMER DOES NOT BENEFIT’
Highlisghting that Türkiye imports about 10 million tonnes of wheat every year and exports it as flour and pasta, Gürer added, “Industrialists benefit from this trade, but farmers cannot benefit from these exports. The main thing is for the country to ensure its own agricultural sufficiency.”
