THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said that dried fig is also one of the important brand products like raisin in the world.
Pakdemirli said, “Our country with an average of 305 thousand tons of fig production on 521 thousand hectares ranks 1st across the world.”
Stating that Turkey takes the first place in global exports of dried figs alike raisins, Pakdemirli noted, “268 million dollars of fig exports realized in 2019 as dried and fresh. So about 1.6 percent of agricultural exports come from figs.”
Expressing that dried fruit exports made to 134 countries in the first half of 2020 and amounted to 605 million dollars, Minister Pakdemirli explained, “According to the data of the Aegean Exporters’ Association, 92 million dollars was obtained from fig exports. Statistics show that the world’s best quality figs are grown on these lands like grapes. In addition, we have started work as of March 2020 within the scope of fig export to Japan. In this context, the Japanese side requested detailed reporting and information. We are rapidly continuing our efforts to export figs to Japan. Our aim is that there is no country left in the world that does not taste the figs, grapes, hazelnuts and other precious and delicious products grown in our country. Of course, this year, fig harvest was partially affected in some regions due to climatic factors. As a result of the data obtained, it is predicted that the Aegean Region dried fig harvest will be 85,585 tons in 2020.”
“Of course, we follow the markets very closely. If the prices cause dissatisfaction with the producer, our Turkish Grain Board (TMO) will be activated. And as I always say, we will never allow our producers to be victimized. Just as we support and protect our farmers in wheat, barley, maize, tea, raisins and figs, we will not crush our producers with our support policies in other products, but we will protect and watch them in the same way,” Pakdemirli added…
