Erdoğan's statement on 'price manipulation': 'We will hold those who target our nation's bread accountable...'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the Union of Turkish Agricultural Chambers Advisory Board Meeting during the May 14 World Farmers' Day program.

Highlights from Erdoğan's speech:

"WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE COURAGE OF OUR FARMERS"

"We are also grateful to our farmer brothers and sisters for their contribution to our democracy. While some were running to ATM queues on July 15, my farmer brothers and sisters set their crops on fire to stop the coup plotters. We will never forget the courage and patriotism of our farmers. We fought the struggle to save Turkey from tutelage together.

Almighty Allah created us from the soil. We sustain our lives on the soil, with the blessings and crops we obtain from it.

I congratulate our farmers, who irrigate the soil with their sweat and transform it into production and products with their labor, on World Farmers' Day.

The soil is the loyal companion of mankind. Without soil, there is no life. The more we value the soil, the more it feeds, sustains, and embraces us. If you do not shed sweat and make the necessary investments, the soil will not look after you, feed you, or sustain you. We have given our farmer brothers and sisters the importance they deserve. We have worked hard to find modern solutions to problems. We have provided significant support and grants. We have strengthened the integration of agriculture and industry. In 21 years, we have provided 1 trillion 365 billion liras in agricultural support. This year's agricultural support will reach 91.5 billion liras by the end of the year.

We have placed 440 of our agricultural plains under protection. We are protecting the sweat of our farmers with TARSİM. Unrealistic claims are being brought to the agenda regarding the agricultural sector. Turkey's agricultural policy is being disparaged. These claims are an insult to the labor of our calloused-handed farmers. Like every country, we have our problems, but saying 'agriculture in Turkey is finished' is a sign of not just ignorance, but malice.

We are the leader in Europe and among the top 10 in the world in agricultural GDP. We are the clear world leader in hazelnut, fig, cherry, and apricot production. We are 4th in vegetables and 5th in fruit. We increased our agricultural output to 69.2 billion dollars in 2023. We increased our exports from 3.8 billion dollars to 31 billion dollars in 2023.

"WE WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE"

Livestock is another area we attach special importance to. Livestock is the future of the country's agriculture. We have examined the artificial price increases in red meat and investigated the reasons. It is known to everyone that exorbitant price increases cannot be explained by market conditions. There is opportunism rather than market conditions. Certain interest groups are disrupting the market through price manipulation. We will certainly hold those who target the nation's food and bread accountable. We cannot sacrifice the fight we are waging against inflation to price games. We are implementing new policies to resolve complaints in livestock. For the first time, we will provide 70 percent additional support to young and female producers. We will take new measures in the fight against animal diseases."