Citrus fruit growers, who were hopeful that normal trade would resume with Russia following the two countries’ prime ministers meeting, feel let down as a formal agreement has yet to be reached.
Chair of Mersin Chamber of Agriculture, Cengiz Gökçel, explains that pomegranate and mandarin growers have been unable to get a good price in the past year due to troubles in both external and internal markets. “Mandarin prices dropped from 60-70 Turkish cents to 25-30 cents. We expect a year-on-year increase in export, domestic consumption and prices but, unfortunately, the situation seems to get worse every year. ”
According to official reports, Turkey produces 3 million, 800,000 tons of citrus fruit per year, 800-900,000 tons of which is mandarins. “Mandarin growers have been affected the most. The variety which is harvested earlier, in mid-September, is left unsold” says Gökçel. “Growers need financial support from the government”.
Source: Time Turk
