Turkey: Gap between asking, sales price growing
According to Bayraktar's statement, growers in November sold one kilogram of mandarins for TL 0.30, but was priced at TL 1.92 in stores. Likewise, producers listed the price of a bunch of parsley at TL 0.13, but it was sold for TL 0.80 in markets the same month.
Comparing field and market prices for the two goods, Bayraktar noted that the price of mandarins and parsley increased by 6.4 times in November. He also highlighted that the difference between the prices of other products, such as oranges, spinach and lettuce, was also drastic. While the price of a kilogram of spinach surged by 457 percent in November from producers to consumers, the price of a kilogram of oranges increased by 435 percent. Likewise, the difference between the production and sale price of a kilogram of dried figs increased to 333 percent in November, while the price gap for a head of lettuce was 316 percent in the same month.
Bayraktar also stated that compared with the prices in the previous month, the highest plunge regarding food inflation in the Turkish market in November occurred for cucumbers. According to his statement, one kilogram of cucumber increased by 49.81 percent in this month. On the other hand, the highest decrease was observed in the price of mandarins, though there was a large difference between its price in the field and in markets. Bayraktar cited that compared with October, the price of a kilogram of mandarins decreased by 40 percent in November.
Mentioning that citrus producers have long been facing difficulties in marketing their products, Bayraktar stated that it is hard to understand why producers list such products at record-high prices. Underlining that the current situation is not sustainable, Bayraktar called on authorities to take responsibility. Bayraktar also pointed out that the TZOB would contribute to any effort that aims to narrow the gap between producers' and market prices for agricultural products.
Source: todayszaman.com