Tomato Prices in Markets: Once Starting at 3 TL, Now Between 25-30 TL
Farmers and consumers are experiencing a price gap that can reach up to three times the production costs of products. The significant drop in tomato prices is particularly causing unrest among farmers. When the prices of both paste and table tomatoes fall below their production costs, farmers are starting to protest.
The production cost of paste tomatoes is reported to be 2.5 Turkish Lira, while the average cost of table tomatoes is around 10 Turkish Lira. However, this year, factories have limited their purchases of tomatoes, leading to a decline in farmgate prices.
Farmers are worried due to the price uncertainty. It has been noted that prices for tomatoes at the farm level have dropped to as low as 3 Turkish Lira, while the price per kilogram of table tomatoes is falling below 20 Turkish Lira. As a result, some farmers are ceasing to harvest their crops.
Despite the drop in prices at the farm, the prices in supermarkets and markets remain the same. Intermediaries are not reducing prices, causing losses for both farmers and consumers. Farmers insist that the involvement of intermediaries should lead to a decrease in prices.
Selling tomatoes below their actual production costs is creating severe difficulties for farmers, while intermediaries continue to enjoy high profits. This situation is leading to farmers’ protests with no solutions in sight.
Source: Tarım Haberleri
John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.