Olive harvest begins in Manisa, but producers face hard times due to costs and low prices
While the olive harvest in Manisa victimizes producers due to low prices and high costs, calls were made for the postponement of debts.
As the olive harvest season in Manisa begins with low purchase prices and high labor costs, it was reported that producers are forced to sell their products below cost and are considering leaving the olives on the branches.
Sharp drops in olive prices
In Manisa, one of Turkey's major olive production centers, prices for the Uslu variety of olives have dropped significantly. Olives that fetched up to 50 liras per kilogram last year are finding buyers at an average of 17-18 liras this season.
A similar picture has emerged for Domat type olives, with the price of large Domat olives dropping from 80 liras to 60 liras within a week. While the price of regular Domat varieties remains at the 25-30 lira level, the price per kilogram for oil olives has fallen as low as 10 liras.
High labor and input costs
While labor costs are stated to have reached 15-20 liras per kilogram, the income obtained by producers from sales in some varieties has reached a point where it cannot even cover the daily wages of the workers.
It was stated that agricultural input costs such as fertilizer, pesticide, diesel, and labor remain high, and producers are struggling to cover these expenses.
Producers considering leaving them on the branches
CHP Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu stated that producers think it is pointless to harvest olives under these conditions. He noted that the price drops cannot be explained solely by an abundance of product.
It was emphasized that due to current economic conditions, not harvesting the olives and leaving them on the branches has become a more profitable option for the producer.
The price gap between producer and consumer
While the Edremit Chamber of Agriculture announced the cost of olive production per kilogram as 74 liras, producers in Akhisar are selling their products at low figures such as 17-18 liras.
The fact that olives finding buyers for 30 liras in the field reach up to 300 liras on market shelves highlights how wide the price gap has become between the producer and the consumer.
Call for debt postponement and support
It was reported that producers in Manisa have become unable to pay their debts to Ziraat Bank, Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, and dealers.
It was demanded that debts in the agricultural sector be postponed without interest, divided into three years and three installments, and that olive and olive oil supports be reinstated.