Drought, high costs, and export pressure strain Turkey's dried fig producers

Turkey, a global leader in dried fig production, is experiencing growing unease among its growers as the new season approaches. Drought, escalating labor costs, and persistent structural issues in exports have created a bottleneck, leaving producers in a precarious position and urgently seeking solutions.

Ali Oğuzhan Ülgüdür, head of the İncirliova Agricultural Chamber, warned of a looming production crisis, drawing parallels to the "production collapse" experienced by Italy and Spain due to labor costs. He accused market players of intentionally creating a negative perception, stating, "They want to show us death and make us accept a fever." Ülgüdür emphasized that the price per kilogram for dried figs, which he described as "manual labor," should be at least 300 Turkish Lira. He highlighted the absence of a minimum price system and Tariş's inability to dominate the market as key factors contributing to the producers' hardship.

Adding to the challenges, Ülgüdür pointed to unfair international competition, noting that Afghanistan sells its figs at a higher dollar-based income than Turkey. "Despite producing the world's best and most figs, Afghanistan achieves the best profit," he stated. He cautioned that without necessary measures, Turkey could face the "sad production collapse" that Italy and Spain once endured.

Ülgüdür also addressed the critical issue of "first loading date" in exports, a major source of crisis for the system. He argued that delaying this date significantly hinders producers by delaying trade. This decision, he stressed, should not be made solely by the Exporters' Union but through a joint decision involving Agricultural Directorates, Agricultural Chambers, and producer representatives. He also cautioned against premature pronouncements on harvest volume, noting that official sources predict a 20-30% increase, but figs are sensitive, and definitive statements before harvest completion harm producers.

Further compounding the problem is the lack of mechanization and the severe drought. While olive cultivation has seen mechanization, fig production still relies heavily on manual labor. Ülgüdür noted that some are exploiting the situation by delaying harvests, but the drought remains a major concern. He revealed that villages that had never heard of "artesian wells" five years ago are now drilling excessively, leading to decreased yields in unirrigated lands and highlighting the urgent need for irrigation solutions.