Eskişehir sugar beet producers demand price increase

Sugar beet producers in Eskişehir, led by the Eskişehir Genç Rençberler Association, have launched a signature campaign to demand a revision of purchase prices. The association is calling for the price per ton to be increased to at least 4,500 TL, up from the announced 2026 price of 3,720 TL.

Association President Burak Kuşan stated that the current 20% annual price increase fails to keep pace with the rising costs of essential production inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, and fuel. The collected signatures are intended to be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Political figures, including YENİ Party Deputy Chairman Utku Çakırözer and Eskişehir MP İbrahim Arslan, have voiced support for the producers. Çakırözer also called for VAT and Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) exemptions on diesel and fertilizer to alleviate the financial burden on farmers. Additionally, Kuşan criticized local chambers of agriculture for failing to sufficiently advocate for farmers' rights in the field, calling for stronger solidarity among agricultural institutions.