Local Turkiye

Potato producers expect export incentives due to insufficient domestic consumption

After the harvest in different regions, the potatoes, which are brought to Nevsehir to be put on the market during the year, are taken to natural cold storage depots built underground by carving tuff rocks. Producers want the necessary steps to be taken quickly to market the potatoes, whose production area and yield have increased compared to the previous years.

Okkes Yildirim, Member of the Board of the Seed Manufacturers and Producers Sub-Union stated that they expect the sector to be supported and to contribute to the marketing of the surplus product in the country. Yildirim emphasized that the exit price of a kilogram of potatoes from the warehouse varies between 50 kurus and ₺1 depending on the quality of the product:

‘’This year, as farmers shifted more towards potato, production increased. Due to the pandemic, chain restaurants, hotels and fast-food units were closed or limited, which reduced potato consumption. Maybe the consumer will eat cheap potatoes this year, but if the producer does not plant it the next year, we cannot find potatoes for even ₺10 in the next years.

Turkey produces the cheapest potatoes in the world right now. Due to the high exchange rates, exports should be supported by at least $50 per ton. If we do not sell these products abroad, the producer’s wound will grow a little more. While approximately 4.5 million tons of potatoes were produced in the past years, this year there is around 5 million tons of production. Potatoes are the most expensive product in crop production. It costs ₺1 to produce a kilogram potato, if it is sold for 50 kurus, producer losses 50 percent.’’

Mahmut Caliskaner, President of Nevsehir Chamber of Agriculture, stated that there are hundreds of thousands of tons of potatoes in warehouses throughout the province, and consumption in the domestic market is not sufficient.

Pointing out that the sale of products below the cost will cause the farmer to enter a troubled period, Caliskaner expressed that they expect a total effort to increase exports.

Mustafa Taskin, one of the potato producers, also stated that if the farmer does not get enough income this year, he will have difficulty in planting next season.

source: AA / translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu

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