Proposal for 20 Lira Premium for Olives, 50 Lira for Olive Oil

November 2, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

Meeting with producers in Edremit, Balıkesir, Özgür Özel called for a direct premium support of 20 lira per kilogram for table olives and 50 lira per liter for olive oil, citing rising costs and falling purchase prices.

Producers' Cost Dilemma in the Edremit Basin

Özgür Özel met with producers in Zeytinli Neighborhood, Edremit district of Balıkesir, to examine the deep economic bottleneck in the olive sector firsthand. Stating that farmers having to leave their orchards during harvest season to explain their problems proves the crisis's magnitude, Özel noted that collection, transportation, and pressing costs have reached unsustainable levels. It was announced that many farmers in the region are forced to abandon their crops on the branch due to inability to cover expenses.

Input Costs and Falling Prices

The gap between production inputs and free market purchase prices is rapidly widening against the producer. According to data shared by Özgür Özel, although the cost per kilogram for table green olives reached 75 lira this year, merchant purchases have fallen to the 40-50 lira range. For olive oil, purchases have reportedly dropped to 220 lira against a cost of 280 lira. The decline in product value while diesel costs soar is directly dragging farmers into loss.

Premium Proposal for Olives and Oil

An urgent support package to compensate for the financial losses incurred by producers was announced, which will be brought to the agenda during the parliament's budget negotiations. Özgür Özel proposed a direct cash premium support of 20 lira per kilogram for table olives and 50 lira per liter for olive oil. It was emphasized that these supports are vital for producers to escape the debt spiral and hold onto their trees, and that they should be directly transferred from the budget.

Public Procurement Guarantee and Stock

The aim is to adapt the guarantee model in public-private collaborations to farmers to ensure predictability in agriculture. Recalling the income guarantees in infrastructure projects, politician Özgür Özel made the following statement:

'In the government that the NEW Party will establish, I don't know about the rich, but there will be a livelihood guarantee for the producer.'

It was pledged that during high-yield seasons, excess market supply will be purchased and stocked by the state, and during low-yield years, export commitments will be maintained with these stocks, completely preventing market loss.

New Base Price Based on Cost

It was announced that olives and olive oil will be officially included in the scope of strategic products, transitioning to a cost-oriented base price regime. Özgür Özel stated that even the depreciation of agricultural machinery and tractor tire expenses will be included in the calculations, and a humane living profit margin will be added to the real cost. It was announced that heavy sanctions will be applied to merchants making purchases below this determined legal base price, and no farmer producing at average yield will be made to incur losses.

Global Market Share and Exports

Concrete data revealed that Turkey lags in international marketing despite its production volume. Özgür Özel stated that Tunisia exports 80% of its olive oil production, while this rate in Turkey is stuck at only 10%. Pointing out that the 12.5% additional tax imposed on Turkish olive oil during the term of US President Donald Trump made exports difficult, Özel stated that value-added exports are targeted with an update to the European Union Customs Union, instead of the system where Italy imports bulk and brands it.

Women's Labor and Security in Harvest

The working conditions and social rights of the female labor force, which forms the backbone of olive farming, were among the main agenda items of the meeting. Emphasizing that the ongoing daily wage inequality between female and male workers is unacceptable, Özel said that direct premium support will be provided to women working in agriculture. It was also stated that rural women who cannot work in the fields and have domestic care responsibilities will be included in insurance and retirement coverage.

Türkçe