Wholesale Market Law debate: 'The solution is to support production'

Hüseyin Demirtaş, President of the Turkish Agriculturalists Association (TZD), said, "There will be no drop in food prices with the enactment of the Wholesale Market Law. To lower prices, it is necessary to support the producer. There is no produce in the fields, no fruit on the trees. This will not be fixed in a year either. Even the walnut trees have dried up, let alone their fruit. Next year, there will be maintenance, pesticides, and fertilizers for these. These are all expenses. This year, the farmer will not be able to harvest anything, and for the first time in Turkey's history, we will be forced to import fresh fruits and vegetables."

The Ministry of Trade has opened for consultation a draft text regarding amendments to Law No. 5957 on the Regulation of the Trade of Vegetables and Fruits and Other Goods with Sufficient Supply and Demand Depth, known as the 'Wholesale Market Law'. TZD President Hüseyin Demirtaş made evaluations regarding the draft Wholesale Market Law, which is claimed to "lower vegetable and fruit prices if enacted."

Stating that the regulation in the draft regarding the 'transfer of the authority to establish wholesale markets from municipalities to the Ministry of Trade' should be debated, Demirtaş also emphasized that the planned regulations would not lower vegetable and fruit prices and that the solution lies in supporting the producer.

"PRODUCERS MUST BE SUPPORTED FOR PRICES TO FALL"

Demirtaş stated that the Wholesale Market Law has been discussed for many years and that even if the draft is enacted, there will be no decrease in vegetable and fruit prices, adding the following:

"There is an expectation in the public that vegetable and fruit prices will fall once the regulation is enacted. Especially on the consumer side. There is no such thing, 'The Wholesale Market Law will pass and we will reach cheaper food'... It was published once; according to the Producer Price Index, the farmer is producing at a high cost. That is, they are selling their product either at cost or below it. They haven't been able to make a profit for the last two years; they have been left to fend for themselves. Therefore, there is no need to get one's hopes up. To lower prices, it is necessary to support the producer."

"WE MAY BE FORCED TO IMPORT FRESH FRUIT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TURKEY'S HISTORY"

Stating that there will be a very serious decline in vegetable and fruit production as a result of natural events experienced this year, Demirtaş said, "There is no produce in the fields, no fruit on the trees. This will not be fixed in a year either. Even the walnut trees have dried up, let alone their fruit. Next year, there will be maintenance, pesticides, and fertilizers for these. These are all expenses. This year, the farmer will not be able to harvest anything, and for the first time in Turkey's history, we will be forced to import fresh fruits and vegetables."

Demirtaş stated that another issue in the Wholesale Market Law draft is the shortening of the supply chain, noting that this has been tried many times before but has not affected prices. He also stated that one of the issues that should be discussed most in the draft law is the transfer of the authority to establish wholesale markets from municipalities to the Ministry of Trade.

News Source: 12punto