Kırbiç: Sunflower planting areas must be expanded to reduce imports

Trakya Birlik Board Chairman Şafak Kırbiç stated that they purchased 300 thousand tons of sunflower seeds during the season.

In his statement to reporters, Kırbiç noted that there was a decline in yield and quality due to drought.

Stating that they purchased more sunflower seeds than they had estimated as Trakya Birlik, Kırbiç said, "We purchased as much product as last year, approximately 300 thousand tons. We had anticipated that the amount of product purchased might decrease due to the drought, but because market prices remained below our prices, producers preferred Trakya Birlik. Payments for the products we received have been made. Approximately 4.5 billion liras in payments were made."

Kırbiç expressed that they are making efforts to ensure producers achieve the best earnings.

"Our primary goal is to ensure their products are valued in the best possible way. We are fighting for the best price to be formed, for the farmer to earn the best money, and for the cultivation of the product to be sustainable. Everyone does this job to make money. When prices are low, the farmer's earnings parity should be raised through increased support and different instruments. Under normal conditions, we meet approximately 70 percent of our country's needs through domestic production, but this year, due to the drought, this rate was around 50 percent."

Kırbiç pointed out that planting areas must be expanded to reduce sunflower imports.