Turkish grape producers face crisis over low prices

Grape producers in Turkey are facing a severe crisis due to low purchase prices and rising production costs. In the Sarıgöl district of Manisa, Mayor Tahsin Akdeniz reported that some farmers are discarding their harvests on the ground because the offered prices of 3-4 TL per kilogram do not even cover labor wages.

Akdeniz has called upon President Erdoğan and Agriculture Minister İbrahim Yumaklı for urgent intervention, noting that costs have tripled and farmers are unable to pay their debts. He invited local members of parliament to visit the vineyards to witness the situation firsthand.

Similarly, in Nevşehir, producers are protesting as fresh grapes are being bought at rates between 8-10 TL per kilogram. Farmers there have expressed frustration over the lack of modern processing facilities and marketing infrastructure, stating that the current prices fail to meet high input costs. Some producers have resorted to leaving grapes on the vine or turning to drying methods to mitigate losses.