Unfolding Türkiye’s agriculture crisis: Why are farmers protesting across country?
Farmers organize protests in many cities across Türkiye. (Photo via Akdeniz Bulten)
Farmers in Türkiye are organizing frequent protests to express their growing concerns about rising costs and economic pressures in the agricultural sector.
Over the past week, demonstrations took place in several provinces, including Bursa, Kahramanmaras, Balikesir, Aksaray, and Nigde to draw attention to Türkiye’s agriculture crisis.
In these regions, farmers blocked roads with their tractors, drawing attention to the difficulties they are facing in production.
While inflation drives up consumer prices in markets, farmers are reporting significant losses, often receiving lower prices for their produce than the prices paid by consumers in retail stores.
Turkish farmers protest as costs increase, income decrease
Farmers across various provinces attribute their financial difficulties to the increasing costs of key agricultural inputs such as diesel, seeds, fertilizer and labor.
Many believe that if current conditions persist, the country’s agricultural production may decline. Farmers continue to stage protests, seeking attention to their plight.
Türkiye’s agriculture crisis leads to price disparities between farmers, markets
Data shows a significant disparity between what farmers receive for their crops and the prices consumers pay in stores. For instance, potatoes that sell for ₺4 ($0.15) per kilogram in the fields are priced at ₺15 ( $0.54) in supermarkets, according to data from the Turkish Union of Agricultural Chambers. Similarly, onions sold at ₺2 ( $0.07) per kilogram at the farm level reach ₺17 ( $0.61) in retail stores.
- Potato prices: Field price – ₺4 ($0.15), Market price – ₺15 ($0.54)
- Onion prices: Field price – ₺2 ($0.07), Market price – ₺17 ($0.61)
One onion producer from Ankara’s Sereflikochisar district, Muzaffer Celik, stated that he invested ₺5 million approximately $181,000) in production this year, but estimates his losses between 3 million TL and ₺4 million (approximately $108,600 to $145,000).
- Onion production cost: ₺5 million ($181,000)
- Onion loss: ₺3-4 million ($108,600 – $145,000)
Tomato, other crops experience price inflation
In Istanbul, tomatoes grown in Canakkale and sold at ₺5 ( $0.18) per kilogram in the fields are priced as high as ₺40 ( $1.45) in supermarkets.
- Tomato prices: Field price – ₺5 ($0.18), Market price – ₺40 ($1.45)
- Eggplant Prices: Field price – ₺10 ($0.36), Market price – ₺30 ($1.08)
- Green Pepper Prices: Field price – ₺16 ($0.58), Market price – ₺40 ($1.45)
Watermelon production does not cover costs due to Türkiye’s agriculture crisis
This year, Türkiye produced nearly 4 million tons of watermelon. However, many farmers have left their crops unharvested because of unfavorable pricing conditions.
While the production cost of watermelon stands at approximately ₺5 ($0.18) per kilogram, the field price has dropped to ₺1 ($0.04) per kilogram. In urban markets, watermelon is sold for ₺10 ($0.36) per kilogram.
- Watermelon prices: Field price – ₺1 ($0.04), Market price – ₺10 ($0.36)
- Watermelon production cost: ₺5 ($0.18) per kilogram
Farmers protest by dumping unsold tomatoes on road
Farmers have expressed concerns over the declining value of their crops and rising production costs. For example, some farmers in Gaziantep protested by dumping their unsold tomatoes on the road, citing the challenges they face because of increasing costs and low profits.
“If no support is given, suicide rates will rise in the coming days,” one farmer stated, referring to the financial strain faced by many in the agricultural sector.
According to reports, the price of sunflower seeds, which was ₺40 ( $1.45) per kilogram last year, has dropped to between ₺25 and ₺30 ( $0.91 to $1.09) this year.
- Sunflower seed prices: Previous year – ₺40 ($1.45), Current price – ₺25-30 ($0.91-$1.09)
Diesel prices, which stood at ₺20 ( $0.72) last year, have more than doubled to ₺42 ( $1.52) per liter.
Additionally, labor costs have risen from ₺400 ( $14.50) per day to ₺800 ( $29) per day.
- Diesel price: Previous year – ₺20 ($0.72), Current price – ₺42 ($1.52)
- Labor costs: Previous year – ₺400 ($14.50), Current cost – ₺800 ($29)
Farmers are urging Agricultural Credit Cooperatives to step in and assist by purchasing their crops. Many say they will continue protesting until solutions are provided.
‘Opposition organizing protests ‘
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, addressed the recent farmer protests during a live broadcast. He stated the protests were being organized by the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), suggesting that the party aimed to portray the agricultural sector in a more negative light than the reality.
Yumakli emphasized that the protests were creating a misleading impression of the state of farming in Türkiye.
CHP Deputy Chairman Erhan Adem responded to the Minister’s comments, stating: “While farmers struggle to pay their debts by selling their tractors, we ask the Minister: What are you doing about this?”
Distributing products to public for free as form of farmers protest
In a separate incident, a farmer named Onder Yakici, who was transporting 20 tons of melons from Manisa to Antalya, decided to give away his produce for free after receiving offers that did not cover his costs.
He parked his truck in Antalya’s Muratpaşa district and distributed the melons to residents. The entire stock was gone in just 30 minutes.
“If it’s not worth anything, what else can I do but give it away?” Yakici raised the question.
These events reflect the ongoing challenges faced by farmers across Türkiye as they grapple with rising costs and market pressures.
