CHP's Başevirgen: 'The picture you say has no problems is a picture of the public's hunger'

CHP Manisa Deputy Bekir Başevirgen criticized AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements on agricultural production and food supply. CHP's Başevirgen said, 'When you look from the Palace's window, there may be no problems, but the reality of the streets and the fields is a complete disaster. The picture that Erdoğan says has "no problems" is a picture of the farmer's bankruptcy and the public's hunger.'

CHP Manisa Deputy Bekir Başevirgen claimed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's statements regarding agricultural production and food supply do not reflect the reality. Pointing to official data and the situation observed in the field, Başevirgen stated that producers are being crushed under the burden of debt and costs.

In his written statement, Başevirgen said the following:

''THE PICTURE ERDOĞAN SAYS HAS NO PROBLEMS IS A PICTURE OF THE PUBLIC'S HUNGER''

'Inflation is hovering at an annual level of 32.37 percent, but the hardship experienced in the kitchen is much greater than this rate. The annual price increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages is occurring at 34.55 percent, above the general inflation rate. Although it is seen that TUIK announced the agricultural input cost increase as 31.55 percent, in reality, the cost increase faced by the farmer is at the 50-60 percent level. The farmer has to buy diesel and fertilizer not at the low figures reflected in the statistics, but at shelf prices. Producers are in debt, their tractors are under foreclosure, and their fields are mortgaged. The view might look different when looking from the Palace; however, the situation on the street and in the field is like a disaster area. The picture that Erdoğan says has "no problems" actually means the bankruptcy of the farmer and the hunger of society.'

''FOOD INFLATION CANNOT BE STOPPED''

Başevirgen stated that the annual price increase in food and non-alcoholic beverages is beyond general inflation, which leads to a serious contraction in household tables. In his own words; 'Even TUIK's made-up data is not enough to hide the exorbitant increase in food. In April, food prices increased by 3.70 percent monthly. This means that every month, one more plate is missing from the citizen's table. Even though Erdoğan says "there is no problem with the supply," market shelves are now just display cases for many citizens.'

Emphasizing that sustainable production in agriculture is under threat, Bekir Başevirgen brought the Agricultural Input Price Index (Tarım-GFE) data to the agenda. He announced that as of March and April, there was an increase of 41.37 percent in veterinary expenses, 37.70 percent in feed prices, and 36.89 percent in fertilizer costs.

''CONTRACTION IN AGRICULTURE AND DANGER IN FOOD SECURITY''

Drawing attention to the serious decline forecasts in crop production, Başevirgen made the following assessments: 'Significant amounts of decrease are expected in grain, vegetables, and fruit. The government prefers imports instead of supporting the domestic producer. Enriching the foreign farmer does not solve the problem. Food security is now a matter of national security. Every farmer who breaks away from production will mean that the public will consume more expensive bread and meat in the future.'

Başevirgen emphasized that President Erdoğan's statements do not coincide with the facts and used the following sentences:

''THERE IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM IN THE WORLD OF A MOTHER WHO CANNOT GIVE FRUIT TO HER CHILD''

“President Erdoğan's statement that 'there is no problem in food supply' only reflects his own comfort zone. We see the problems of the farmer, the livestock breeder, the producers in Manisa's vineyards, the Aegean's fields, the Gediz Plain, the retiree at the market, the worker at the factory, and the student at school firsthand. There is a very big problem in the world of the farmer whose yield has dropped because they could not apply fertilizer, the retiree who buys meat by the gram, and the mother who cannot put fruit in her child's lunchbox. The solution is not in imports; it is in providing the support mandated by the Agricultural Law in full and in planned production. We are waiting for real action, not rosy pictures. If you do not do it, we, as the government in the first elections, will give all laborers their due and end foreign dependency in production.”

Başevirgen's statements show that the problems experienced in the agricultural sector and the discussions regarding solutions will remain on the public agenda in the coming period.