The government has finished off livestock farming: According to the AKP, we are number one in Europe, yet we are buying frozen meat from Brazil!

CHP Deputy Chairman Responsible for Agriculture and Forestry Policies Erhan Adem reacted to the importation of frozen meat from Brazil while the government claims Turkey is the European leader in beef production. 

Stating in a written statement that the government's agriculture and livestock policies are entirely rent-oriented, Adem expressed the following:

“Turkey is governed by a ruling power that claims to be in first place in Europe in beef production. So, what is the use of this first place? If we are truly Europe's largest producer, why are we importing 10 thousand tons of frozen meat from Brazil? Because the figures the government cites do not align with the realities experienced by the citizens. They have devastated the producers and brought livestock farming to the point of extinction. Then, they open the door to imports as a 'solution.' The real problem is that this government neither hears the voice of the producer nor sees the fire in the consumer's kitchen.

You cannot manage this crisis with a mindset that constantly imports instead of supporting this country's livestock farming! What problem can a mentality that imports meat from abroad instead of supporting the producer solve? Because your mind works on rent issues, not the country's problems! If your concern were truly to make this country number one, it would be better if you did nothing at all. This country already produces; it is already strong. But what are you doing? Instead of supporting the producer, you cling to imports. You pressure the producer to sell their livestock cheaply and then turn the market upside down by bringing in frozen meat from abroad.

You are trying to suppress prices with imports, but this serves no purpose other than to completely destroy the domestic producer. Once the producer is alienated, you can never win them back! Today, you are saving the day by importing from Brazil, but what will you do tomorrow when this country's farmers and livestock breeders quit the business? The rise in meat prices in Turkey is the result of your wrong policies, not the producers'. You have not made any structural reforms regarding livestock, you have not lowered production costs, and you have not brought feed prices under control. While the farmer struggles with diesel, feed, and electricity bills, you present imports as a solution.

The import of 10 thousand tons of frozen meat is a new blow dealt to this country's livestock industry! The Meat and Milk Board turning to imports fills the pockets of middlemen, brokers, and importers, not the producers. If Turkey has ceased to be a self-sufficient country, you are responsible for it. Today, while the domestic producer loses money against cheap imported meat, tomorrow they will quit production entirely. What will you do then when you cannot find meat? Will you import even more? Will you hand over the fate of the country to farmers in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay?

We will continue our struggle to change your rent-seeking order and to get the producer back on their feet!”

News Source: 12punto