THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
Related Articles
Municipalities and public institutions, which are important buyers in the sector, have almost stopped purchasing products for economic and political reasons. The bottleneck in the construction sector is also causing serious losses in the landscaping sector and consequently, in the plant sector. To make matters worse, the ministry, caught up in the imperialist game, has started pursuing a misguided obsession with mandating the use of drought-resistant plants under the pretext of combating global warming and climate change, despite our objections.
In a country where deposit interest rates are 50 percent, we already know that agricultural production is not a wise venture. However, we cannot give up because our investments and expertise are tied to this sector.
Now, let’s talk about exports…
In a country where 80 percent of agricultural production costs are input costs, our sector, forced to produce at the world’s highest costs due to currency restrictions, can no longer compete with global markets. Additionally, the ministry’s quarantine regulations and its restrictive stance on exports are adding insult to injury, leading to a significant decline in our export figures. We are losing the gains we have made over the past seven years one by one.
It is important to remember that sustainability is crucial in this sector. Producers who cannot convert their production into revenue are not engaging in new production and cannot create the supply needed to meet demand in 3-5 years. This means imports in the future and consequently, foreign exchange losses.
In the short term, our greatest expectation is that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will take measures to facilitate and streamline exports. Not complicating matters is already a form of facilitation…
By Savaş Akcan,
Chair of Turkish Ornamental Plant Growers Union (SÜSBİR)
