Producers seek increase in premium on cotton seeds from Govt

14 Aug '08

2 min read

Basri Özçoban, Chairman of The National Cotton Council of Turkey, stated that in regard to the domestic and international prices and costs, the premium on cotton seed should be specified as 50 Ykr/kg.

Last year, the prices of fertilizers rose 100 % and the fuel oil prices increased 30%. When considering the 'marginal payment' support system, which was regulated for supply-deficit products in the Agricultural Code Nr.5488, the premium on cotton seed for 2007 should have been at least 50 Ykr/kg

Özçoban said: “The Premium specified for 2008 will determine the future of Turkey's cotton production. Either cotton will be kept on planting or with this decision the final countdown of the decreasing cotton production will begin.

Özçoban noted, “Cotton, which is a vegetative raw material of textile, has a considerable role in both Turkey's and the world's agricultural industry and trade. Although cotton is a strategic product for Turkey, the production rate declines in our country year by year. There is a decline of 20 % in the plantation areas in the business year 2007/2008, which also seems to continue for the season 2008/2009.

Without more public support, cotton will lose its competitiveness. More than half of the cotton consumption of Turkey is covered through import, which increased 2.5 times since 2000. Despite the increase in textile export, the value of YTL and the high input costs forces the textile industry to tent with each year more and more to import. We assume that import will be about 1 million tons this year.

Cotton is not only a problem for certain areas, but it is a problem that matters the whole country. A recession in cotton production also covers the textile industry and affects our international competitiveness. There should be taken urgent steps to increase cotton production. Farmers should be supported more.

As it is also the policy of the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers who grow supply-surplus products should be successfully directed to supply-deficient products. In regard of this, additional premiums should be given and this premium should be announced at least 50 Ykr/kg for 2007.“

TARIS Cotton and Oil Seeds Agricultural Sales Cooperatives Union

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