The farmer, who found the intervention purchase price of corn for the 2023 season as low as 6 thousand TL per ton on August 22 by the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), took action in Sakarya. Akyazı Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Şinasi Bayraktar said, “This price announced in an environment where the annual inflation in the country is over 60 percent and there is an increase of nearly 100 percent in our production inputs such as diesel, fertilizer, seeds, and medicine was perceived as a punishment to our producers.” said. Bayraktar also stated that the Egyptian producers gave 80% of the votes support to President and AKP Chairman Erdoğan and his party in the May elections, and made a request from Erdoğan.
Halil ATAS
Release:
Sakarya Chambers of Agriculture Provincial Coordination Board, together with the producers, made a press statement on July 15 Democracy Square in order to revise the 2023 corn intervention purchase price announced by TMO upwards and to announce the demands of the producers regarding the supports to the government and the public.
“THIS PRICE IS PERCEIVED AS A PUNISHMENT TO OUR MANUFACTURERS”
Akyazı Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Şinasi Bayraktar made the following statement on behalf of the farmers:
“It is not possible to understand on what criteria the intervention purchase price of corn, which was determined as 5 thousand 700 TL per ton in the previous year, was determined as 6 thousand TL with an increase of 5.3 percent. This price, which was announced in an environment where annual inflation in the country is above 60 percent and there is an increase of nearly 100 percent in our production inputs such as diesel, fertilizer, seeds and medicine, was perceived as a punishment to our producers.
“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MANUFACTURE FOR THE NEXT SEASON”
Considering that the prices in the free market range between 5 thousand and 5 thousand 200 TL per ton in cities such as Adana and Hatay, where the corn harvest begins and is about to end, it is not possible for the producer to make a living, pay off his debt and produce for the next season with these prices.
“OUR REQUESTS HAVE BEEN SHIPPED”
Bayraktar said that after the announcement of the intervention purchase price for 2023, the reactions and demands from the producers were conveyed to the President of the Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Turkey, and said, “These requests and reactions were conveyed to our Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and our Minister of Agriculture by our President. Again, as Sakarya Chambers of Agriculture, the reactions and demands of our producers have been conveyed to all deputies of our province, party provincial heads, Sakarya Metropolitan Mayor, district mayors.”
“THEY EXPECT YOU TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO PLAN THEIR FIELDS”
Stating that the demands for an upward revision of the Egyptian intervention purchase price or for the support of 2 thousand TL per ton to the producers have not been met by the decision makers, Bayraktar continued as follows:
“We are calling from this square again to repeat the call of our farmers; Mr. President, in the General Elections for the Presidency and Parliament held on 14 May 2023 and after the Presidential 2nd round on 28 May 2023, you and your party were given 80 percent vote support in the electoral circles where corn producers are located.
Mr. President, corn producers have done their part by fighting rain, mud, drought, diseases and pests, producing for their country and for themselves. Now they expect you to create conditions that will pay off for their hard work, sweat and risk, so that they can make a living, pay off their debts, and sow their fields in the next production season.
“WE REQUEST YOU”
Mr. President, from Sakarya City Square, we demand from you as producers;
We would like you to revise the Egyptian Intervention Purchase prices for 2023 upwards in line with the price expected by the producer or to pay a support of 2 thousand TL per ton.
-As the responsible heads of the Chamber of Agriculture, we warned in our previous statements, today we are warning once again from Sakarya City Square. If the purchase prices of corn do not bring the producers in, Sakarya Plain, which is among the most valuable agricultural basins of our country, will become perennial planted hazelnut and poplar fields as of next year. This will create a significant loss and threat for our country.
-We expect the call we made from Sakarya City Square to receive a positive response from the decision makers, especially our President.