20 MILLION TONS OF WHEAT PRODUCTION EXPECTED THIS YEAR ACROSS TURKEY...

With the effect of an increase in its price, as stated in the National Grain Council's 2020 March Wheat Report, a rise of 5 percent is expected in wheat yield, which has an expansion in the cultivation area.

The National Grain Council (UHK) March 2020 Wheat Report included recommendations for the production of wheat and supply security under the influence of the new type of Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

In the report, which pointed out that agriculture and food in the epidemic are the sectors that will be affected the most, it is stated that there is a tendency to increase in food prices in the world as some countries have restricted the export of agricultural products within the scope of health measures.

Measures in agriculture and food against the epidemic...

Although the emptying of supermarket shelves in many developed countries because of the impact of the pandemic, this study pointed to the food problem is not happening in Turkey, it also drew attention to the height of agri-food potential of Turkey.

In this sense, it is a matter to highlight that the celebration of farmers, agricultural engineers, all technical personnel providing service to the sector, all relevant institutions and organizations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and TMO (Turkish Grain Board), which successfully manage their decision making processes, should be highlighted. Meanwhile the following recommendations were included:

"In strategic products such as wheat, preferences and policies should always be in favour of production. For this, TMO intervention purchase prices should be at a level that will satisfy the producer as in the previous year. It is recommended to boost the support given to wheat as 20-25 kurush. Import taxes and VAT on agricultural inputs should be reduced temporarily. The lowering of SCT (Special Consumption Tax) in agricultural diesel should be put on the agenda, electricity energy should be supplied to agriculture at a much lower price. Agricultural unions and cooperatives should continue to provide input to member producers more effectively. TMO is expected to have sufficient stocks and make it a permanent policy, but the fact that this wheat stock is met primarily from domestic production is also justified by the producers. Efforts should be updated by removing the barriers to the producer's access to the market."

An increase in yield is expected...

In the report, it was emphasized that, in the period between 1 October 2019 and 31 March 2020, 5 percent lower precipitation was received compared to the average for many years, but the distribution was good and the precipitation in this period varied significantly by regions.

The report also pointed out that the distribution of precipitation throughout the country, except for the beginning of October, is balanced for wheat, includes:

"Turkey has had an increase of around 3 percent compared to last year's entire wheat fields, this increase rose to 10 percent in durum seed. Fertilizer use also showed an increase this year noticeably compared to last year. This situation is likely to make a positive impact on the harvest. Wheat cultivation area average is 7 million hectares in terms of long years and the average production is 19.7 million tons. According to this, if the partial increase, plant emergence and development in the summer cultivation areas are taken into consideration and there is no excessive change in the next period, it is estimated that it will be in the range of 20-20.5 million tons by realizing 5 percent higher than last year. "