Turkish corn farmers face ruin amid soaring costs, demand higher prices

Corn farmers in Kadirli, Osmaniye province, have begun their harvest amidst significant financial distress. They are demanding prices between 20-25 Turkish lira per kilogram for corn, citing soaring production costs.

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The farmer is finished, we are finished. Diesel fuel has doubled, hasn't it? Our corn was 12 lira, now how much is it? The price per kilo should be 20-25 lira this year. What are you talking about harvesting? Look, we are dead. Half of the crop was also hit by floods, it's all finished.

Farmers like Hatice Kara highlighted the dramatic increase in expenses. "Diesel fuel has doubled, hasn't it? Our corn was 12 lira, now how much is it? The price per kilo should be 20-25 lira this year," she stated, detailing costs for fuel, fertilizer, labor, and combine harvesters. She added, "What are you talking about harvesting? Look, we are dead. Half of the crop was also hit by floods, it's all finished."

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The situation is not good at all, it's not what it looks like. There are no prices, diesel fuel is going up endlessly, and the yield is low this year. What will happen? I don't know the fate of this farmer. Last year it was 11-12 lira per kilo, if it's at least 20 lira now, this farmer can straighten his back, otherwise, goodbye to the other side.

Şevket Kara echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for a minimum price of 20 lira per kilo. "The situation is not good at all, it's not what it looks like. There are no prices, diesel fuel is going up endlessly, and the yield is low this year," he said. He noted that diesel fuel rose from 45 lira last year to 80 lira now, and fertilizer costs have also surged. "What will happen? I don't know the fate of this farmer. Last year it was 11-12 lira per kilo, if it's at least 20 lira now, this farmer can straighten his back, otherwise, goodbye to the other side."

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The farmer is shrinking and shrinking. The farmer is dead, we can say the funeral prayer in absentia. This year the kilo of corn should be 25 lira. Combine harvester fees are separate, water fees are separate, seed planting is separate, they charge 500 lira per decare to plant. We are already dead, we will say the funeral prayer in absentia, God willing.

Another farmer, Mikail Çöllü, expressed extreme pessimism: "The farmer is shrinking and shrinking. The farmer is dead, we can say the funeral prayer in absentia." He stressed that the price needs to be 25 lira per kilo, considering costs for combine harvesters, water, and seeds, which he estimates at 500 lira per decare for planting. The sentiment among many is that the current economic conditions are pushing farmers to the brink, with some contemplating selling their equipment to cover debts and expenses.

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The farmer's end will be death, crawling, the farmer, the tradesman, all will crawl.