Unplanned agriculture leads producers into a dead end

Karacabey Chamber of Agriculture Vice President Ramazan Düzen said that the Karacabey Plain, the largest plain in Southern Marmara with 680,000 acres of agricultural land, is known for its fertile soil.

Stating that 450 thousand acres of this area can be irrigated, Düzen argued that despite such productivity, farmers have always suffered losses in recent years.

"Cultivation areas have decreased to 90 thousand acres"

Explaining that tomatoes for paste were planted on 150 thousand decares last year and that prices per kilogram dropped to 1.5 lira, Düzen pointed out that although contracted prices have exceeded 4 liras this year, the cultivation areas have decreased to 90 thousand decares.

Stating that the price of tomato paste, which is over 4 liras, did not save the country, Düzen said:

This year, no tomatoes for paste were planted on 60,000 decares. Watermelon production increased significantly, but the season went badly. It started at 70 kuruş and dropped to 30 kuruş per kilo. Watermelons, which escaped tomatoes, were also hit. Corn production also increased significantly this year. The Karacabey average for industrial corn was 1,400-1,450 kilograms per decare. This year, it could drop to 1,200 kilograms. We were expecting 600 kilograms for seed, but according to our current studies, yield will fall below 400 kilograms. The announced prices are 1,300 lira per ton. 200-250 kilograms of industrial corn per decare represents a significant loss. Silage prices are 2,500 lira. They buy 6 tons per decare. They earn 15,000 lira on silage corn. Currently, the cost of silage is around 17,000 lira.

"Those who avoided tomatoes and planted watermelon and corn did not win either."

Düzen pointed out that unbalanced production leaves farmers with a negative outcome, saying, "This is what happens when you can't maintain balance; farmers are thrown away. Those who abandoned tomatoes and planted watermelons and corn couldn't make a profit either."

Emphasizing that good prices should be given to five main products in Türkiye: wheat, corn, beet, cotton, and sunflower, Düzen said:

Those who plant these five main crops shouldn't suffer losses. These crops should be subsidized. The crop pattern will naturally stabilize and spread. Those who plant wheat lose money, while those who plant beets and sunflowers lose money. When these crops lose money, farmers try to make money by planting tomatoes and watermelons, but when they overproduce, they lose money. If a crop pattern were established, I could grow wheat on 200 acres of my 1,000-acre plot, 200 acres of corn, 200 acres of watermelon, and 200 acres of tomatoes and peppers, thus reducing my risk.

"Our costs have increased a lot"

Emphasizing that without this, as is the case in many regions, unbalanced overproduction occurs and the product becomes worthless, Düzen said, "The only one who loses money is the farmer. Our costs have increased significantly, and production has become very difficult. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry should be more vigilant about farmers. Farmers should not suffer losses."