Turkey was able to be the champion of the world with the increase in consumer food prices. Beginning with December 2020, Turkey became the second after Argentina, with the rise that reached 14.6 percent in consumer prices and 20.6 percent at food prices annually. [The figures are reduced by about half, given by Turkey Statistical Institute (TUIK).] Meanwhile, the country rose to the first row among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

According to Sözcü’s Nuray Tarhan’s news article Turkey, the country that its foreign dependence is increasing in agriculture day by day became champion among the OECD countries with reaching 20.6 percent in food prices.

“WE HAVE DEPENDED OUTSIDE”

CHP Chief Advisor for Agricultural Policies and Bursa Deputy Orhan Sarıbal stated that according to the data of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, world food prices have risen for the last seven months due to the pandemic. He said, “While food prices in the world have decreased by 17 percent in the last ten years despite the historical peak in 2011, those increased by 225 percent in our country.”

Pointing out that there is a trend towards stocking agricultural products in the world, Sarıbal said, “There are two important reasons for this: drought and epidemic. Agricultural commodity prices continue to increase as the states, which foresee yield losses due to drought and are dependent on foreign countries, turn to imports. It seems that this increase will continue to be upward. Because we do not produce enough and we are dependent on foreign sources for the production of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel oil. When we do not specify the inputs, we cannot control the output prices. When there is not enough production in the country, you remain dependent on foreign countries. As the prices of agricultural inputs and agricultural products increase in the world, it turns out to be expensive input for the producer and expensive food for the consumer. The reason for all this is the import-based agricultural policies that AKP has implemented for 18 years.”

DIRECT SALES LINES AT THE DOOR

Economist Dr. Murat Kubilay drew attention to that accessing basic food products became increasingly difficult in the context of rising costs on the basis of an increase in currency exchange rates; as a result of that Turkey didn’t comprehensive and planned investments in agriculture and livestock fields. Kubilay said, “If a new planning is not made in food, starting from production, it is possible that price increases will lead to direct sales lines again.