In recent weeks, many European countries such as Germany, France, Romania, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Greece have witnessed farmer protests. A similar increase is observed in Poland and other Eastern European countries, largely opposing the import of cheap Ukrainian grain into the European Union.
Farmers are generally responding to rising costs and the reduction of tax cuts and subsidies in the industry. They are demanding higher payment for agricultural products and less bureaucracy.
In Turkey, farmers have long been complaining about inadequate incentives given the high costs.
So, what is the situation with farmers in Turkey?
Speaking to DW Turkish, Baki Remzi Suiçmez, President of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, said, „One of the main reasons for the farmer movements in Europe was the plan to reduce subsidies for diesel fuel. In Turkey, there is no tax base for diesel fuel,“ he said.
Input costs are rising in Turkey, with prices for agricultural inputs such as diesel, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and animal feed constantly increasing due to the rise in foreign currency. However, agricultural enterprises are lagging behind the increase in input costs.
According to the Union of Chambers of Agriculture of Turkey (TZOB), fertilizer prices increased by 16 to 25 percent last year, while milk feed prices rose by 43.3 percent, and fattening feed prices by 41 percent. Electricity prices rose by 2.11 percent last year, and medicine prices by 16.7 percent. The price of diesel fuel increased by 12.2 percent in January and by 78.6 percent last year.
Diesel fuel, one of the most valuable resources for farmers, is used in every stage of production, from soil preparation to planting, fertilizing, spraying, and harvesting.
President of TZOB, Şemsi Bayraktar, said, „Our producers are already thinking about how to buy the diesel they need in the spring months due to the rising diesel prices. For our agriculture and farmers, diesel is a necessary production tool, not a consumption item. Therefore, it should not be considered as private consumption, and no taxes should be imposed,“ he said.
Suiçmez also pointed out that the excise tax and value-added tax are imposed on diesel fuel, saying, „We have been demanding for years that the excise tax and value-added tax be removed. For farmers in production, the value-added tax on their tractors and combine harvesters should be abolished and the value-added tax reduced, but unfortunately, this issue has not been resolved. There is no arbitrary regulation,“ he said.
Suiçmez highlighted that the costs of animal feed are quite high due to the dependence on imports and also called for improvements in diesel fuel and fertilizer supplements for animal feed crops.
According to Suiçmez, who stated that fertilizer supplementation is not increased for all crops, this could lead to productivity losses because the farmer does not use fertilizer. He also mentioned the abolition of the reference price for milk and warned that the problem of producers sending their animals for slaughter due to the lack of supplements and low purchase prices will continue to increase.
According to the livestock production statistics published by the Turkish Statistical Institute, the number of cattle decreased by 2.6 percent annually in 2023, and the number of small livestock decreased by 6.9 percent. In 2020, the number of cattle decreased from over 18 million to 16 million.
Suiçmez emphasized that the number of animals has decreased, and meat and milk prices have risen due to wrong policies, saying, „Although they try to solve the problem by importing animals from abroad, imports are not a solution. Structural problems need to be fixed, producers need to continue production without slaughtering their animals, and make a profit. This is possible with support.“
„What are the supplements available?“
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s agricultural support budget was increased by 44.5 percent to 91 billion 554 million lira in 2024. Of this, 23.7 billion lira is allocated to field supplements, 24.9 billion lira to differential payments, and 19.7 billion lira to livestock support.
For area-based supplements, there is an additional 16 billion 100 million lira for diesel, representing a 41 percent increase from the previous year, and 4.9 billion lira for fertilizers, a 7 percent increase from the previous year.
This year, support of 149 TL per decare was provided for wheat, barley, rye, and oats, while a total of 217 TL was provided for rice, 250 TL for diesel, 21 TL for fertilizers, and a total of 217 TL for hazelnuts, onions, fresh tea, olives, and sugar beets. A support payment of 107 TL is made. While an amount of 124 TL is determined for dried beans, lent