Sugar Beet Producers Demand 4,000 Lira Per Ton
· Tarım Pusulası
CHP Niğde Deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer and sugar beet producers demanded the purchase price to be at least 4,000 lira per ton, highlighting the escalating input costs.
Sugar Beet Price Agenda in Niğde
CHP Niğde Deputy and Member of the Grand National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs Commission, Ömer Fethi Gürer, met with farmers in a sugar beet field in the Bor district of Niğde. Gürer, listening to the producers' problems before the harvest and campaign period starting in September, stated that producers are experiencing significant income loss due to rising input costs. In the meeting, Gürer evaluated the on-site situation with sugar beet producer Kemal Börekçi and emphasized that the purchase price should be announced at a level that satisfies the farmers as soon as possible.
Producer's and Deputy's Price Demand
Sugar beet producer Kemal Börekçi, making evaluations regarding the purchase price to be announced during the field visit, underlined the input costs and stated the following:
"If it were up to me, I would want it to be 4.5 lira. Because the inputs are very expensive."
Stating that his expectation is between 4,000 and 4,500 lira per ton, Börekçi made a call for sustainable production for the farmer:
"At least 4,000 lira."
CHP Niğde Deputy and Agriculture Commission Member Ömer Fethi Gürer, supporting this demand on-site, stated that the farmer must be protected and voiced his demand:
"A price of at least 4,000 lira."
According to Türkşeker's official statement, the purchase price for the 2025-2026 production year, including the quota completion premium, is set at 3,100 TL/ton.
Nationwide Yield Expectations
During the on-site meeting, Ömer Fethi Gürer also touched upon nationwide yield projections. Gürer stated that an estimated 22 million tons of sugar beet yield is expected across the country this year, and annual sugar production is realized between 2.8 and 3 million tons. While official sources recorded Turkey's sugar beet production for 2025 at approximately 20.8 million tons, Gürer expressed that purchase prices must cover the increasing costs for the continuity of production.
Seed and Input Costs
Producer Kemal Börekçi explained the sharp rise in seed prices, one of the most fundamental cost items in beet cultivation, with figures. Börekçi stated that he purchased seeds this season for 38 lira, which he previously obtained for 22 lira, noting an approximate 72.7% increase in this category. Farmer Börekçi stated that this surge in input costs has completely eroded profitability and warned that if the price remains insufficient despite the purchase guarantee offered by contract farming, planting areas will shrink.
Cost Per Decare and Yield Balance
Sharing details on production costs, Börekçi said that the expenditure per decare has reached 25,000 to 27,000 lira. He stated that depending on maintenance, irrigation, and fertilization conditions, the yield per decare ranges from 6 tons to 8-9 tons, and that producers are directly losing money on low-yield lands. Sugar beet producer Kemal Börekçi summarized the producer's dissatisfaction due to the imbalance between yield and cost with the following words:
"With prices like this, people are starting to get disgusted with beets."
Pressure from Irrigation and Fertilizer Expenses
Börekçi stated that irrigation and energy costs are on the rise, reporting a 100% increase in irrigation costs and a fee of 450 lira per hour for irrigation water provided by the cooperative. Sugar beet producer Kemal Börekçi, noting that diesel and electricity expenses are also pressuring farmers, expressed the financial pressure on the ground with the following words:
"Everything we have, the inputs are very expensive right now."
Gürer, on the other hand, pointed out that DAP fertilizer has risen to 40,000 lira and urea fertilizer to 38,000 lira, while the pulp package is sold between 2,200 and 2,500 lira.
Contract Farming and Strategic Importance
CHP Niğde Deputy and Agriculture Commission Member Ömer Fethi Gürer emphasized that beet farming feeds a massive economic chain extending from seed to industry, pointing to the sector's importance:
"Beet is a strategic product."
Sugar beet producer Kemal Börekçi, explaining the security offered by the current cultivation model for the farmer, evaluated the system:
"There is a guarantee."
Gürer also argued that this contractual structure must be protected. Reminding that supporting domestic producers against starch-based sugar is mandatory, Gürer reiterated that the demand for a base price of 4,000 lira per ton is vital.