On August 8, tomato farmers in the western provinces of Bursa and Balıkesir, Turkey, obstructed the Bursa-Balıkesir highway with their tractors. The road is a critical route between İzmir and Istanbul. This action was in response to the unsatisfactory prices offered by tomato paste factories. The mobilization, led by the agriculture chambers of Karacabey and Mustafakemalpaşa, aimed to highlight the challenges farmers encounter in selling their produce. The Anadolu Agency reported that the demonstration led to disruptions, including traffic jams and minor confrontations with motorists. Law enforcement, including gendarmerie and riot police units, intervened to manage the situation.
Key political and law enforcement figures, including Bursa Governor Mahmut Demirtaş and representatives from the CHP and İYİ Party, engaged with the protestors. Governor Demirtaş revealed ongoing negotiations with various stakeholders, including tomato paste factories and the Agricultural Credit Cooperative, which have commenced purchasing 30,000 tons of produce. Additionally, agreements were made with over 20 chain stores to prioritize the sale of local products. The protest, which lasted around 3.5 hours, concluded after farmers accepted a revised offer of 3.5 lira per kilogram for their tomatoes, leading to the reopening of the highway.
Source: duvarenglish.com