TİM Agriculture Committee Convenes in Adana

TİM Agricultural Council Convened in Adana The Agricultural Council of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) conducted on-site inspections in Hatay and Samandağ to assess the impact of the earthquake disaster on production and determine measures to be taken. Following field visits, the TİM Agricultural Council convened in Adana with the participation of producer association executives from the region to address problems and propose solutions. TİM Agricultural Council Chair Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu stated in her assessment that Turkey ranks fourth globally in fresh fruit and vegetable production with approximately 55 million tonnes. Mutlu emphasized that the earthquake-affected region, particularly Hatay, holds a significant share in Turkey's total fresh fruit and vegetable production. Noting that three main issues emerged from their inspections in the region, Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu continued as follows: "The provinces hit by the earthquake rank among the most important centers for agricultural production and exports. We invited business leaders and producer association chairs actively engaged in production in the region to our meeting in Adana. • Most urgently, to maintain sustainability in agriculture, we must ensure workers return to the region. This requires adequate housing, children's education, and access to healthcare. • Subsequently, irrigation pipes and channels along with deep well pumps—which are essential for agricultural production and sustained heavy damage in the earthquake—must be renewed and brought back into operation. Farmers must receive support without delay. • Finally, revitalizing small and medium-sized enterprises stands out. Partially damaged production facilities must quickly return to the economy. • To this end, Social Security payments for employees of exporting companies affected by the disaster could be covered by the state for 2 years or deferred interest-free. • Permanent housing support could be provided for SME workers to contribute to disaster-zone employment and prevent the workforce from relocating to other provinces. We will convey all these findings to our relevant ministries," she said. Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu emphasized that despite all these difficulties, 2023 has been "a year of abundance," noting "There is abundance in hazelnuts, fruits, tomatoes, citrus. We are very hopeful in terms of production and harvest. If we do not manage this correctly, in a year and a half or two, it will become our 'year of scarcity.'" Saying "To sustain this positive outlook, urgent measures must be taken on the three issues listed above," Mutlu continued: "Labor issues are not unique to this region. Seasonally, we draw agricultural workers from this region to the Black Sea, Aegean, and other areas. For seasonal agricultural employment, this region holds an extremely important position. If we do not properly manage agricultural employment in the Southeast, not only this region but all of Turkey's agricultural harvest will face major difficulties. If we work together for the right product and the right market, we will develop alongside our farmers and producers both in the domestic and export markets. Our sole objective is to increase production."  

Agricultural Exports Reduce Inflation

Noting that exports play a locomotive role in productivity and quality in agricultural production, Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu stated that Turkey's exports based on agriculture and livestock will help reduce inflation. Emphasizing that agriculture is a sector generating net foreign exchange and employment-friendly, Mutlu said, "Any restrictions placed on exports will inevitably push Turkey into an importer position for that product within one or two years." Noting the need to address the concerns of people in the region affected by the earthquake—who have lost lives, property, memories, and hopes—about the future while healing the wounds of disaster, Mutlu added that their return to work life will help them overcome this severe psychological trauma.