CHP Chairman Özel calls out the government: They are trying to create artificial agendas to provoke us

Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel spoke at the Farmers' Rally organized by his party in the Turgutlu district of Manisa. Noting that they will continue to voice the problems and demands of farmers to all of Turkey, Özel said, "They are trying to create artificial agendas to provoke us. Try as you might, I will not follow your agenda while tomato, cotton, grape, hazelnut, tea, and pistachio producers are in this state. My agenda is the agenda of our farmers, the masters of our nation."

Özel argued that all farmers are struggling not to lose the lands inherited from their grandfathers and fathers, which are their families' livelihood, to the banks where they are mortgaged, and stated that although the country's population has increased by approximately 20 million in the last 20 years, the number of farmers has decreased by 500 thousand, and producers who cannot make a living from the land are leaving farming to work in factories for minimum wage.

Stating that the average age of registered farmers is 58, and that this should be in the 30-32 range, Özel said, "Young people have lost hope in agriculture. You know how some people constantly talk about a survival issue; there is no greater survival issue than this. If a country's farmers are decreasing and the farmer population is aging, it turns from a self-sufficient country into a country that imports everything," he said.

Stating that farmers' bank debt has increased by 188 percent in the last year, reaching 700 billion liras, Özel noted that the 1 percent share that should be given to farmers as support from the national income is not being given to the producers.

"FARMERS WILL KNOW THEIR FRIENDS AND FOES"

Özel stated that he brought up the issue of erasing the interest on farmers' bank debts, but this was not accepted, and said the following:

"Today, I want the interest on farmers' debts to be erased; they do not accept it. The corporate tax waived just last year was 660 billion liras. Who pays this? Bosses pay it, companies pay it, holdings pay it. When it comes to them, you erase 660 billion in one stroke, but when we say 'erase just the interest of the farmer,' you say 'there is no source.' Politics is a matter of setting priorities. I am the CHP Chairman; our priority is workers, laborers, and of course, farmers. If those who come to the village coffeehouse when election day comes, who ask for your vote, do not even agree to erase the interest—let alone your debt—while they erase the debts of the rich after the election, then the farmer will know their friends and foes."

"TMO MUST ANNOUNCE THE GRAPE PURCHASE PRICE"

 Arguing that food inflation in Turkey is at the 60 percent level, Özel said, "Because there is no fair law on wholesale markets, retail trade law, or water law, a product that is 1 lira in the field becomes 10 lira at the bazaar and 25 lira at the market. We are tired of saying it, but they do not approach these laws. They know the solution better than you and me, but they do not approach it," he said.

Özel noted that they are following the situation of producers whose products were damaged in disasters such as downpours and hail, and that they proposed that debts be postponed for one year and their interest be erased.

Noting that Tariş announced a price of 100 liras for number 7 seedless dried grapes, Özel continued as follows:

"When looked at, the price seems acceptable, but this yield cannot support this price. Tariş cannot buy all the product. It buys 8 percent. Therefore, the TMO must immediately announce a price of at least 120 liras for number 7 grapes without delay, open mobile grape purchasing offices in many places, and purchase grapes rapidly and at high capacity with experts who truly understand grapes. If these are not done, the grape grower will be devastated."

Özel claimed that despite high increases in production inputs such as diesel, fertilizer, irrigation, and electricity, producers are selling their products to the buyer at prices lower than last year, and continued his words as follows:

"Some are trying to fight with us over other issues and cover up these problems. I give you my word of honor. No matter what they do, I will remain loyal to voicing the real problems of this country, not their artificial agenda. In fact, there is nothing they won't do to provoke us and pull us into other places.

Now they are trying to create artificial agendas to provoke us. Try as you might, I will not follow your agenda while tomato, cotton, grape, hazelnut, tea, and pistachio producers are in this state. My agenda is the agenda of our farmers, the masters of our nation."

Stating that if there is no livelihood in agriculture, there must be an election, Özel provided information about the steps they will take to solve the farmers' problems if they come to power.

News Source: AA