Chronic Problems of Turkish Farmers

Abstract

Turkish farmers who engage in soil cultivation have to face a number of serious problems, ranging from the loss of agricultural land to climate change. Moreover, they cannot earn a living from agriculture due to high production costs, intermediation system in the trade of agricultural products and insufficient financial support. The price increases in chemical fertilizers range from 55% to 82% while the price increase in diesel oil is 47% in the 2010 2014 period. However, the increase in area-based financial support is only 29% in the same period. Therefore, it is required that the state takes all measures to resolve the problems of Turkish farmers. Preventing the misuse of agricultural land as well as its use for non-agricultural purposes, updating financial support for agriculture with respect to the price increases in agricultural inputs and developing a new agricultural policy which will focus on climate change are only some of the measures which should be implemented without delay in Turkey.