The world can't get enough of Turkish tomatoes

According to the Greenhouse Investors and Producers Association (SERA-BIR), Turkish tomatoes are very popular in the world. Muslum Yanmaz, head of the association said: "We export mainly to Russia and also to Romania, Bulgaria, Germany and Switzerland. The world can't get enough of Turkish tomatoes."

Yanmaz pointed out to the importance of tomatoes among other agricultural products and urged for the need to improve greenhouse production in Turkey.

Yanmaz stated that tomato exports marked an increase compared to the same period last year and totaled 100 million USD (89 million Euro) so far in 2019. Yanmaz reminded that in 2018, Turkey exported tomatoes to 53 countries and earned 292 million USD (260 million Euro). He emphasized that the biggest market for Turkish tomatoes is Russia which is followed bu European countries.

"We produce approximately 12 million tons of tomatoes"
Pointing out to the quality of Turkish tomatoes Yanmaz said: "In Turkey, we produce approximately 12 million tons of tomatoes of which 3,5 million tons come from greenhouses. We use the technology and smart systems. Good agricultural practices increase the demand for our tomatoes. Russia is our major market. 62% of Turkey's overall fresh produce exports are destined to Russia. The climate in Turkey is suitable for modern greenhouses. In our experience, the transition to modern greenhouse production increased the demand for our products. From December to May, we harvest a lot of products. For the last 20 years, we owe our success to modern greenhouses."

Yanmaz emphasized that no additives are used in greenhouse production. Therefore, he asserted that tomatoes in greenhouses are even healthier than open-field tomatoes.

Yanmaz contended that the prices are high in the domestic market due to the absence of open-field tomatoes. "From December until May, there is an increased demand for tomatoes and prices increase. The harvest of open-field tomatoes from May on will decrease the prices again." said Yanmaz.

Producer Price Index of Agricultural Products, March 2019

Agriculture PPI increased by 1.75% in March

Producer price index of agricultural products (Agriculture - PPI), in March 2019, increased by 1.75% compared with the previous month, increased by 13.20% compared with December of the previous year, increased by 27.33% compared with the same month of the previous year and increased by 16.04% compared with twelve months averages.

Compared to the previous month; agriculture and hunting products increased by 1.88% and forestry products increased by 5.19%, however, fishing decreased by 4.71%.

The highest monthly increase was in perennial crops

Regarding monthly changes by main groups; perennial crops increased by 6.62%, non-perennial crops increased by 1.62%, however, live animals and animal products decreased by 0.63%.

The vegetables from sub-agriculture groups increased by 3.31%

From sub-agriculture groups; there were increases for citrus fruits by 7.96%, for rice (in hulk) by 3.46% and for sheep and goats, live; raw milk and shorn wool from sheep and goats by 0.62%, however, there were decreases for oleaginous fruits by 0.33%, for poultry, live and eggs by 3.28% and for fibre plants by 5.01%.

In March 2019, 81 items were included in the Agriculture PPI; prices of 48 items increased, prices of 27 items decreased and prices of 6 items remained unchanged with respect to previous month.

Source: Turkish Statistical Institute

Turkey: Onion shortages return

Onion prices on the Turkish market hiked up to nearly 10 Turkish liras per kg as the country faces an onion shortage. Before the March 31 local election, Turkish authorities started selling cheap fruits and vegetables in the city squares. When the election was over, the government carried food stalls into supermarkets.

The onion price in wholesale market halls steers between TRY 5-7 per kg (€0.80-1.11) as the state-provided onions are sold around TRY 2 (€0.32) at supermarkets. In small supermarkets which do not have state-provided food stalls, onion prices have risen to between TRY 7-10 (€1.11-1.59).

Earlier, Turkey was dealing with skyrocketing onion prices. The government was set to allow onion imports in certain amounts and from certain countries in an effort to curb prices. On Januray 15, president Erdoğan ordered tariffs on onion imports be set to zero until February 29. According to Turkish news site Diken, this has now has been extended until the end of April by the orders of the president.

Milk and Milk Products, February 2019

Milk collected by integrated dairies was 751 thousand 17 tonnes

The amount of collected cow's milk in February decreased by 7.8% when compared to the same month of the previous year.

Drinking milk production by integrated dairies became 128 thousand 986 tonnes in February and decreased by 16.5% when compared to the same month of the previous year. Cheese production from cow's milk was 54 thousand 757 tonnes and decreased by 2.8% when compared to the same month of the previous year. Cheese production from sheep, goat, buffalo and mixed milk was 743 tonnes decreased by 67.5% when compared to the same month of the previous year.

Yoghurt production became 89 thousand 116 tonnes in February and decreased by 1.2% when compared to same month of the previous year. Drink made of yoghurt production became 53 thousand 527 tonnes and decreased by 1.8% when compared to the same month of the previous year.

In February the average fat rate of cow's milk collected by integrated dairies was 3.5%, the average rate of protein was 3.2%.

Seasonal and calendar adjusted amount of collected cow's milk in February when compared to the previous month decreased by 2.2%. Calendar adjusted amount of collected cow's milk in February when compared to the same month of the previous year decreased by 7.8%.

Source: Turkish Statistical Institute

Turkish cherries will soon be harvested

Manisa, a city located in the west of Turkey is known to provide one of the first harvests of the northern hemisphere. Their first harvest is expected in mid-April. Producers are also looking forward to exporting Turkish cherries to China for the first time this year.

The Sancaklibozkoy neighborhood, located in Manisa's Sehzadeler district, has a special microclimate which is suitable for cherry trees. The neighborhood is getting ready for the first harvest of the year. Producers said that they are satisfied with the production and the opportunity to enter the Chinese market for the first time. According to the 2018 data provided by Manisa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Manisa exported 32 thousand 808 tons of cherries to mainly European countries, then to Russia, Canada and Far Eastern countries. This season the export volume is expected to be higher.

Huseyin Altindag, president of the Agricultural Chamber in Sehzadeler district visited Sancaklibozkoy before the harvest.

"A productive season ahead"
Emphasizing that the first cherries of the northern hemisphere comes from Sancaklibozkoy, Altindag said: "Our cherries have already started to grow and will be ready soon. We hope that the weather conditions will not cause any damage to our products. In the meantime, I must warn our farmers about diseases and insecticides. They need to use insecticides in a way that won't leave any residues. We expect to have a productive season and we hope that our sales will be successful too. These cherries will be exported so our exporters need to make good deals."

Ozgur Azili, a cherry producer said: "The quality of our cherries is very good this year. Around April 15th. we will harvest the first cherries of the northern hemisphere. Productivity is higher this season. We apply insecticides without additives. We have a variety of cherries like Salihli and Napoleon. Last year, we produced 100 tons of cherries in our orchard and we exported 60 tons of those."

Poultry Production, February 2019

Hen egg production was 1.6 billion units

Hen egg production decreased by 6.7% in February compared with the previous month, and increased by 2.6% compared with the same month of the previous year.

Number of slaughtered chicken was 91 million, number of slaughtered turkey was 413 thousand units

Number of the slaughtered chicken decreased by 5.7% in February compared with the previous month, and decreased by 2.7% compared with the same month of the previous year. Number of the slaughtered turkey decreased by 4.1% in February compared with the previous month, and decreased by 5.9% compared with the same month of the previous year.

Chicken meat production was 158 thousand 411 tonnes, turkey meat production realized as 4 thousand 291 tonnes

Chicken meat production decreased by 6.2% in February compared with the previous month, and decreased by 4.9% compared with the same month of the previous year. Turkey meat production decreased by 15.5% in February compared with the previous month, and decreased by 7.6% compared with the same month of the previous year.

According to the seasonally and calendar adjusted series; chicken meat production increased by 0.0005% compared with the previous month. According to the calendar adjusted series chicken meat production decreased by 5% compared with the same month of the previous year.

Source: Turkish Statistical Institute