CHP Edirne Deputy Assoc. Dr. Okan Gaytancıoğlu made a statement about the export restriction on tomatoes. Gaytancıoğlu said, “The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry restricted tomato exports until April 14, 2023, on the grounds of the increase in prices and the earthquake disaster, food supply security and price stability. The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry should abandon the restriction decision he made to save the day as soon as possible, and provide raw material incentives through policies that support agriculture.
“THIS TIME THE AKP POWER STARTED TO SEARCH FOR THE COST OF LIFE IN EXPORT ITEMS”
Gaytancıoğlu made the following statements in his statement:
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry restricted tomato exports until April 14, 2023 on the grounds of the increase in prices and the earthquake disaster, food supply security and price stability. Considering that 45 percent of our population makes a living from agriculture, the policy followed with the belief that food prices, which are rising day by day in the high inflation environment, will be alleviated with export bans, will reflect a great loss of income to millions of our citizens. The AKP government, which always seeks the blame on others in the face of all kinds of negative effects, has started to look for the cost of living in export items this time.
In the period when the farmer struggles with high raw material prices and carries out production, it will also cause him to lose the market he has created abroad for decades with the export ban. While it cost the farmer 10-15 liras per kilo, tomato prices started to fall below its cost with the prohibition. In this case, it will be impossible for the farmer to produce. In addition, the lack of production caused by the restriction will increase the import figures and carry the foreign dependency to a dangerous level.
The restriction decision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will cause irreversible losses in terms of agricultural production, which is the backbone of our economy.
The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry should abandon the restriction decision made to save the day as soon as possible and provide raw material incentives through policies that support agriculture.”
