Gendarmerie blocks farmers' protest in Bursa

Producers in Bursa's Karacabey Plain, whose processing tomatoes were left in their hands, started a protest on the Bursa-Izmir Highway to voice their grievances.

According to ANKA's report, gendarmerie and riot police teams attempted to block the producers who were demanding fair compensation for their labor. During the protest, which saw tensions rise, tomato producers chanted slogans such as "Break the hands reaching out to the farmer," "Government resign," and "Farmers, protect your crops." The farmers are continuing their protest. 

Karacabey District Governor Hakan Kafkas, who arrived at the scene of the protest, stated that they would convey the problems of the farmers and producers to the relevant authorities and asked them to end their protest.

CHP Bursa Deputy Orhan Sarıbal, in a statement he made in Karacabey the previous day, had said, "In the region that produces the most processing tomatoes in Turkey, a product that cost 3 liras to produce in the field has unfortunately fallen to 2 liras and 30 kuruş in the free market. The farmer is truly in a state of great loss and despair. Dozens of trucks of produce have unfortunately been dumped in pastures and used as animal feed. Just like with watermelons. Now is the time to step in for tomatoes, to step in for the Karacabey farmer, and to lend a hand."

News Source: 12punto