TMO Returns to Lentil Purchases with Green Lentils
· TMO
The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) has started purchasing green lentils after a five-year hiatus, while chickpea producers, selling below cost, are demanding urgent intervention.
TMO Starts Green Lentil Purchases
The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) has intervened in the pulse market after a five-year break, setting the purchase price for 2026 natural green lentils at 32,000 Turkish Lira per ton, or 32 TL per kilogram. In a statement, the institution announced that purchases began on August 31 and that all products offered by producers registered in the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS) will be accepted. While Turkey's payment for imported chickpeas reached $262.1 million in 2025, attention has now turned to the chickpea market following this step in lentils.
Chickpea Producer's Price and Intervention Expectations
In Yozgat, where the harvest is ongoing, producers stated that they are forced to sell chickpeas at 28-30 TL per kilogram due to rising seed and diesel costs, calling for TMO intervention. While the average chickpea price on the Çorum Commodity Exchange is 34.79 TL, and market prices range between 120-170 TL, producer prices remain below cost. Chickpea Producer Aydın Arslaner, who stated he bought seeds for 60-65 TL and had to sell his tractor due to debts, summarized the situation as follows:
As long as TMO does not make purchases, we are at a loss.