"WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES EFFECTIVE FROM THE NEXT WEEK"
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli, "Producers and consumers need to be brought together. There is no need for this great number of middlemen. Middlemen should be where they should be. The most important task to deliver products in healthy conditions falls to chambers, cooperatives" he said.
Meeting with business people in Chamber of Commerce in Bergama Mr. Pakdemirli stated that, Turkey is at a very good point in agricultural yield, but in the future the food needs will increase with the population increase.
Pointing out that rational policies should be developed in order to meet the food needs, Pakdemirli stated, they are making basin-based production; they will also pass to basin-based management as the Ministry enlarged and they will do its planning much better.
"WE HAVE TAKEN MEASURES EFFECTIVE FROM THE NEXT WEEK"
Referring to the increase in vegetable prices Pakdemirli, said:
"While producer price of the commodity is 1 TL, retail price is 4 TL . Especially we are faced with such a problem in the winter. There's a problem with the vegetable prices. Even greenhouses are useless where there is no sunlight. We have recently had a hose disaster in Antalya. We see that the prices have increased. Due to the disastrous excuse and the seasonal conditions, prices are more than what they should be. We've taken measures effective from next week. The metropolitan municipalities, especially Ankara and Istanbul, became organized in order to bring the product to the consumer. We will transport the products in the cheapest way from the manufacturer to the consumer starting from Monday."
Dr. Pakdemirli said that they came to a point of direct sale from the manufacturer.
Mentioning that unions and agricultural cooperatives should be rehabilitated in the new term, "Producers and consumers need to be brought together. There is no need for this great number of middlemen. Middlemen should be where they should be. The most important task to deliver products in healthy conditions falls to chambers, cooperatives" Pakdemirli stated.
"WE WERE QUEUING UP FOR OIL IN THE 70s"
Later, Minister Pakdemirli met with farmers in a restaurant in the district, talked about his projects and works.
Expressing that the rise in vegetable prices is discussed recent days, "Remember the '70s, we were queuing up for vegetables and oil. The country was not well governed by coalitions. By the '80s, Turkey broke its chains and a development period has begun. Everyone has become more satisfied" Mr. Pakdemirli said.
Reminding that they will support agricultural activities in Bergama Minister Pakdemirli added, they will carry out irrigation works and activities on the reclamation of Bakırçay.