Turkey Imported More Lentils Than It Produced
· Google Haberler
While Turkey expects a lentil harvest of 433,000 tons this year, imports have exceeded 495,000 tons, according to CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer, who warned that rising input costs are driving domestic producers away from the fields.
Increasing Import Dependency in Lentils
Republican People's Party (CHP) Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer highlighted the problems in Turkey's lentil production and stated that an urgent policy change is necessary. Reminding that Anatolia is the homeland of lentils, the deputy emphasized that wrong practices have made the country dependent on foreign sources. CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer made the following statements:
"A significant portion of domestic lentils are imported from abroad. Policies can be implemented to eliminate Turkey's lentil deficit. This can be achieved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with proper planning. Despite imported products, the price of lentil soup, a staple on the tables of the poor and needy, is not decreasing but increasing."
A Heavy Balance Sheet Over Seven Years
According to data shared by Ömer Fethi Gürer, 4,463,769 tons of red and green lentils were imported in the last 7 years, costing $2,897,698,000 in foreign currency. Red lentils accounted for 87.9% of the imported products. While a harvest of 433,320 tons is expected in the current production season, imports have already reached 495,572 tons, stated CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer:
"In recent years, due to wrong agricultural policies, our country has become an importer of lentils. 4,463,769 tons of red and green lentils were imported in 7 years. In return, our foreign currency reserves of $2,897,698,000 went abroad. 87.9% of the imported product consists of red lentils. Although 433,320 tons of lentils are expected to be produced this year, 495,572 tons of lentils have already been imported. It appears that imports will again exceed production by the end of the year."
Input Costs Are Reducing Production
Stating that half of the lentil soups consumed are prepared with imported products, Ömer Fethi Gürer said that domestic producers are moving away from the fields due to increasing expenses. Explaining the main reason for the decline in production, CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer made an assessment:
"However, our country can achieve self-sufficiency in lentil production. The biggest problem for producers is the increase in input costs. When producers cannot sell their products at a price that covers their input costs, they change their planting patterns. As a result, there is a decline in production every year."
State Intervention and Planning Are Essential
Ömer Fethi Gürer stated that there is a supply deficit in 21 products in Turkey, with lentils being at the forefront. He noted that products originating from Canada, Kazakhstan, and Russia are found on market shelves. Calling for a state-led approach as a solution, CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer concluded his remarks:
"A significant portion of domestic lentils are imported from abroad. Policies can be implemented to eliminate Turkey's lentil deficit. This can be achieved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with proper planning. Despite imported products, the price of lentil soup, a staple on the tables of the poor and needy, is not decreasing but increasing."