Turkey: Growers in Antalya in bad position after Russian sanctions

Last week, the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision of Russia expanded its sanctions against Turkey and banned the import of sweet peppers and pomegranates from Turkey. As reported by the institution, the reason for this has been the alleged "systematic" supply of contaminated products.

According to Ahmed of Cekok, “In Antalya, South West Turkey, which is where most of the country’s greenhouse production takes place, growers have been severely hit by Russia’s decision. They are currently in a very bad position to find new markets. It is also true that many companies had not waited for the ban to stop exporting to Russia due to issues with the currency or with Russia not accepting the products, but greenhouse growers in Antalya will still be really affected. Furthermore, Antalya was a big tourist destination for Russia and that sector has also felt the consequences.”

For his part, Sarkan of Erust Tarim Eretim, states that they have not yet been affected, as they export fresh herbs and cabbage, which are still ok to be exported, but he also confirms that conditions in Antalya, the heart of Turkey’s fresh production, are not easy at the moment. “They have been forced to sell their products in the domestic market and prices have gone significantly down. The main problem is that there is too much production and, compared to last year, some prices are down by up to 50%.”

To illustrate the situation, he affirms that, over the past two weeks, many lettuce growers have destroyed their production because they couldn’t sell it. “The domestic market can naturally absorb some of this production, but the country’s supply capacity greatly exceeds its demand,” he explains. “It is now a big question mark for greenhouse growers, as they are not sure about what they should produce.”