In Turkey, farmers have been actively protesting to highlight the economic challenges within the agricultural sector. Demonstrations have been widespread, with activities reported in provinces such as Bursa, Kahramanmaras, Balikesir, Aksaray, and Nigde. These protests aim to bring visibility to the hardships faced by those in agriculture, emphasizing the impact of rising production costs and inflation.
Farmers are particularly vocal about the discrepancies between the prices at which they sell their produce and the retail prices in markets. There is a notable gap, for example, with potatoes and onions fetching much lower prices at the farm level compared to their supermarket prices. The Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers provided data showing potatoes being sold for ₺4 per kilogram by farmers, but reaching ₺15 in supermarkets. Similarly, onions go from ₺2 at the farm to ₺17 in retail settings.
The increasing costs of diesel, seeds, fertilizer, and labour are among the key concerns for farmers, who warn that the sustainability of Turkey's agricultural production is at risk. As protests continue, the agricultural community seeks to draw attention to these pressing issues.
[ ₺10 = €0.27 ]
Source: turkiyetoday.com