BERTAN BALÇIK: COTTON FARMERS DEMAND CONCRETE MEASURES

Press release...

NO PRODUCTION WITHOUT MONEY!

2019 PREMIUM OF COTTON FARMERS SHOULD BE PAID RIGHT NOW!

The National Cotton Council (UPK) presented its concrete recommendations to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to continue the production of cotton, which has a large share in agricultural and industrial production and employment. At the meeting held on Thursday April 9 with the General Manager of Plant Production Mehmet Hasdemir and the relevant Heads of Departments, the issues to be carried out urgently were discussed.

Bertan Balçık, Chairman of UPK, explained the followings about the meeting and their suggestions:

"There is no sector affected by the Covit-19 outbreak. Everyone tries to survive in extraordinary conditions created by this outbreak, which we struggle in unity and solidarity as a country. The measures announced so far are not enough to continue agricultural production. More concrete financial steps are needed on a product basis. Ensuring continuity in agricultural production is one of the most important issues. Because, after the epidemic, we need to have local raw materials for agriculture based business lines to stand up. If our government is considering economic development, the protection of the agricultural and industrial production infrastructure required for this is a vital issue. From this point of view, the financial and economic measures to be taken at the moment are of great importance."

Cotton is an important raw material of vegetable oil and feed...

Stating that they take it normally the fact of the food-oriented reflex comes to the fore in agricultural production, as a natural consequence of the Epidemic, Balçık said, "However, it should be remembered that cotton plant is an important vegetable oil and feed raw material for our country. Considering that we pay 1.5 billion dollars for oil imports and 1 billion dollars for feed imports, the production of 300 thousand tons of cotton oil and 800 thousand tons of cotton meal becomes obvious for our country. When making decisions about supporting cotton production, this feature of the product must be taken into consideration."

Escape from cotton!

"On the other hand, with the added value it creates, we want the right of cotton, which is the most important raw material of our Textile and Ready-to-Wear Industries, to be given by our Ministry of Treasury and Finance! Since the planting areas will shrink due to the alternation condition in 2020, it will be possible to increase the existing premiums with an amount equal to 2019. We claim this issue to be resolved as soon as possible through a meeting between the Ministries and to announce the support for the difference payment to be paid for the cotton product of 2020 before the planting season. Otherwise, the escape from cotton production will accelerate and as a country we will have to pay more money for cotton imports!" Balçık noted.

Cotton farmers demand concrete measures...

Pointing out that farmers are in the process of deciding which product to plant these days, "Cotton or corn? At this point, they really need guidance, expect product planning from our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and request the right direction from professional organizations. Nowadays, when the economic effects of the epidemic are beginning to be felt, our cotton farmers are asking the government to explain concrete measures," he added.

"We, as the National Cotton Council, have sent our suggestions including social isolation measures, primarily compensating for economic losses, to our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. And lastly 2019 Premiums Should Be Paid Immediately, 2020 Supports Should Be Announced, Bank Debts should be postponed for a year without interest!" he concluded...