Türkiye to import cattle from Brazil and Uruguay to curb rising red meat prices
20,000 Angus cattle imported from Uruguay to be transported, off the coast of Samsun, Türkiye, on 20 Jul, 2020. (AA Photo)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would take necessary steps to import cattle from Brazil and Uruguay in an effort to control rising red meat prices.
Speaking to correspondents aboard the presidential aircraft during his return from the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday, Erdogan addressed questions about recent increases in red meat prices.
He emphasized the government’s new initiative saying the Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli, has instructed the swift import of cattle from Uruguay and Brazil if needed.
We are planning to take a new step. By importing cattle, we aim to make red meat more accessible at better prices. I discussed this with our Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı. To ensure that citizens can access red meat at reasonable prices, I have given instructions to swiftly import cattle from Uruguay and Brazil if necessary. We will evaluate this and take the necessary steps.
Red meat prices increase by 15%
Red meat prices have reportedly risen by up to 15% compared to the previous month. At the beginning of November, the price of ground beef was around ₺600 ($17.38) per kilogram, but it has now reached ₺680. Similarly, locally sourced beef chunks have increased from ₺600 to ₺700 per kilogram.
The Meat and Milk Board addressed the price hikes on Tuesday, stating that there were no underlying reasons to justify the increase but could not provide a clear explanation for the recent volatility.
