Tea producers continue their protests!

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's announcement of the 2024 fresh tea purchase price as 17 TL per kilogram plus a 2 TL support payment has not quelled the anger of producers. Tea producers, who held a demonstration in Rize to express their reaction, protested the ministry by dumping the tea they brought with them into the square.

Tea producers gathered at Rize Atatürk Square upon the call of the CHP Rize Provincial Organization, stating, "We reject the announced tea price, we do not accept it." The demonstration was supported by members of the Tea Producers' Assembly, representatives of political parties, and professional and non-governmental organizations. CHP Rize Provincial Chair Saltuk Deniz said in his statement here, "We do not accept this price that will condemn tea producers to hunger and poverty. We reject it! We invite the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry to resign for announcing this price." Deniz called out, "A 54.5 percent raise on fresh tea is an act of disrespect toward tea producers. Why is there a crisis only for retirees, workers, and tea producers? If you want austerity, close the palace. Close the palace and make the fresh tea purchase price at least 25 TL. Close the palace and give retirees and workers their due."

TEA IS OUR BREAD

Tea Producers' Assembly Representative Recep Memişoğlu said, "As a result of the price negotiations between the private sector and the state, the base price was kept low, and by the state contributing more to the support price, the private sector was actually supported in a sense. The problems of the tea producer are of course not just price, but price is also very important; it is the beginning of the matter. It is our bread, our school allowance, our funeral expenses, our clothing expenses, our kitchen expenses," he said.

A LAW MUST BE ENACTED FOR PRODUCERS

Kemalpaşa tea producer Emine Akbıyık expressed that the announced price victimized the producer and spoke as follows: "The price was low before, but this year it dropped even further and shook us. We are suffering losses because we are victimized in production by the price hikes. Production involves cloth, tarpaulins, fertilizer, and shears. We also have to harvest the tea by helping each other with workers. The base price needs to be above 25 TL to save us. In the past, we used to make a living with tea money; it was enough for us. Now we have reached a point where we cannot even buy our food; we cannot make ends meet. We are trying to protect our tea fields under difficult conditions. A law needs to be enacted for tea producers. The tea is harvested, but the price is not clear. Every year we worry, 'What will the price be, will we be able to sell it?' The private sector tries to buy tea below the base price set by the state. Because they know that the producer will be forced to sell. A law must also be enacted to determine the working conditions of the laborers. Those with money pay workers a higher price, and when less is offered, the worker does not go. The cost of this also victimizes us."

News Source: 12punto