Turkey agricultural sector faces rising costs and livestock production challenges

Agricultural and livestock producers in Turkey are facing significant economic challenges, including high input costs for fuel and fertilizer, and rising debt levels. In Balıkesir, a new project has been launched to distribute locked feeding systems to small ruminant producers to reduce feed loss and increase efficiency.

In the eastern provinces of Ardahan and Kars, Saadet Party leader Mahmut Arıkan has highlighted severe issues such as rural migration, livestock disease outbreaks, and the lack of integrated processing facilities. Producers in Kars reported difficulties with meat import quotas and bureaucratic hurdles regarding electricity access for livestock structures.

Political discussions also centered on the sunflower harvest in Trakya, where critics argued that recent reductions in customs duties and increased imports have caused sudden price drops for local farmers. Overall, the sector faces a combination of high production costs, inadequate government support, and market volatility.