Turkish agriculture not ready for pesticide problem: exporter

The situation with the uncontrolled use of pesticides in Turkey’s agriculture may lead to a ban on products for import to other countries, Berdan Bera, a member of the board of directors of the Uludag Exporters Association, said on March 11, the edition Cumhuriyet Turk. informed.

“Pesticides are trace amounts of chemicals that are used to control agricultural pests, mold, fungus, etc. They use them to remove or prevent elements that will harm the plant.” – said a member of “Uludag” Bera

The speaker believes that the problem of pesticides in agricultural production is like building a building resistant to earthquakes: the correct soil, the correct product, the correct cultivation methods, the correct diet, the correct agricultural control (authorized chemicals, the correct dose, the correct technique of use). It is very important to have production inspection companies that are trained and licensed with standardized certificates.

Bera added that with a sudden ban, millions of people will be affected by pesticides in many areas, from seeds to seedlings, from growers to middlemen, from exporters to logistics. Making a healthy and pesticide-free product is more important than an incentive to sell it for a lira more, it is a guarantee that we can produce and sell it for generations.

According to Behr, Turkey is the fourth country in the world and the largest country in Europe in the production of fresh fruits and vegetables. At the same time, Turkey ranks fourth in the ranking of pesticide use in Europe, behind Spain, Italy and France. Unlike others, Turkey is under the greatest pressure from sanctions and control measures. At the same time, the producing countries competing with the EU are not subject to such pressure.

A spokesperson for Uludag stated: “If we start from the slogan that the country develops through exports, then agriculture is a matter of the country’s national security.”

He suggested measures that could be implemented quickly: “Create authorized companies to verify production in the cultivation of agricultural products; force intermediaries to hire certified agricultural engineers at farmers’ markets; create training programs for agricultural chambers; control of pesticides in the domestic market to the same extent as in exports”.

Bera believes that if Turkey can create a production model reinforced with biological control and good agricultural practices, exports will naturally grow. She noted that logistics and technology have come a long way, the world’s population has grown, and demand in host countries will continue to grow.

A member of the exporters association recalled that the Russian crisis and the subsequent March ban on the sale of tomatoes in 2023, in fact, demonstrated that the situation had the effect of an earthquake. Restrictions or prohibitions on the export of agricultural products were associated with politics, the economy or public health.

Thus, from 2013 to 2023, the export of our tomatoes fluctuated between 450 thousand tons and 650 thousand tons. The conquered market can be lost in one day, which happened after the destruction of the Russian fighter plane. Competitors immediately occupy the vacated positions. In addition, due to the coronavirus and import restrictions crises, Russia and other countries have created strategies to reduce imports by directing investments to agricultural production. Then it was possible to restore the old indicators of exports with the Balkans and the EU countries.

“Our main duty is to cultivate completely healthy products so as not to cut our own branch”Bera concluded.

Recall that Turkey produces about 55 million tons of fresh vegetables and fruits, and about 9% of them are exported. The world production of tomatoes is about 190 million tons, while Turkey produces 13.2 million tons, which is about 7%. Table tomato production in our country (excluding tomato paste) is about 9 million tons.

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Source: Rossa Primavera