Grape Prices Halved Amid Soaring Costs
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A sharp decline in grape purchase prices compared to last year has led to protests by producers and NGOs in Denizli's Çal district.
Reaction to Falling Grape Prices
In Çal, the viticulture hub of Denizli, a sharp decline in purchase prices has sparked producer outrage. Following the reduction of grape prices, which traded at 30 TL last year, to the 17-20 TL range this year, producers and NGOs gathered at Atatürk Park in Çal Square. Çal Mayor Ahmet Hakan, echoing the producers' concerns, criticized the pricing policy with the following words:
"The producer's sweat is not this cheap. The only solution is cooperation."
Input Costs and Price Discrepancy
Drawing attention to the rapid increase in production inputs, Çal Mayor Ahmet Hakan emphasized that producers are being crushed under the burden of costs. Çal Mayor Ahmet Hakan highlighted the imbalance in the viticulture sector, stating:
"Nobody can explain to the producer why grapes sold for 30 liras last year are being discussed at 17 or 20 liras this year. The producer is not factored into this calculation. The producer's sweat is not considered. The labor of someone who works in their vineyard for a year is disregarded. The producer's costs have not decreased for the grape price to nearly halve. Fuel has not become cheaper, fertilizer has not become cheaper, pesticides have not become cheaper, labor has not become cheaper. On the contrary, the cost of everything has increased. Yet, the price of grapes is being driven down. This is not a sustainable production system. This issue is not just about how much grapes are sold for. It's about the future of a producer. It's about the livelihood of a family. It's about the economy of Çal. It's about the income of shopkeepers. It's about the bread of laborers. It's about the future of these vineyards."
The Future of Viticulture and the Search for Solutions
Stating that continuing production at a loss is unsustainable, Ahmet Hakan issued warnings about the future of viticulture. Çal Mayor Ahmet Hakan made the following assessment, noting that producers will abandon production if they cannot earn income:
"What will happen if the producer cannot make money? Next year, they won't tend to their vineyards. The year after, they will reduce production. Then the vineyards will be left empty. The vineyards will be uprooted. Those who want to buy grapes a little cheaper today will not be able to find grapes tomorrow. We must calculate this today. When Çal is mentioned, grapes come to mind. The people of this land have worked in their vineyards for generations. Our grandfathers and fathers brought these vineyards to this day. Now, we must protect this value they left us. We cannot keep this culture alive by devaluing the producer's labor. There are producers here. There are wine producers here. There are laborers. There are transporters. There are shopkeepers. There are thousands of people who earn a living from these grapes. Therefore, the loss of the producer is, in fact, the loss of Çal."
With these words, Ahmet Hakan called for collective action to protect the economy of Çal.