Apple Frost Disaster Threatens Foreign Market: CHP's Gürer Warns

Frost disaster hits production, exports are in danger
CHP Niğde MP and Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission Member Ömer Fethi Gürer examined the effects of the frost event in Niğde on agricultural production on site. Gürer stated that there were serious yield losses especially in products such as stone fruits, grapes and pears. He also stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced that it would provide support to producers registered with the ÇKS for damaged products, but there was no clear explanation on how this support would be implemented.
 
Niğde is a leader in apple production, but the risk is great
Gürer emphasized that Niğde is one of the leading centers of Türkiye with an annual apple production of 600 thousand tons, and that this figure has increased even more with unregistered production. Gürer, who said that integrated facilities that grow dwarf apples in particular provide production for the foreign market, stated that these facilities suffered great damage due to the frost. He said that the current products in cold storages were sent abroad with the last export connections, and that production would then come to a halt.
 
Manufacturer Acer: 'Market loss is a difficult problem to compensate'
Cemil Acer, who produces apples on 600 acres, stated that their exports to India, Armenia and Iraq have stopped, and said, “Some losses can be compensated for, but the real danger is losing our export markets.” Acer stated that India preferred Türkiye due to the trade problems it has with China, but this opportunity may be missed due to this year’s losses.
 
Employment also suffers
Acer emphasized that not only production but also employment was disrupted. “There were 50 people working in this warehouse all the time. Daily workers, students and daily workers were also working. However, this year, there will be no employment because there is no product,” he said.
 
Market loss will have knock-on effects
CHP’s Gürer stated that the frost event will cause chain effects such as agricultural labor, transportation, cold storage and tradesmen. Stating that it will be very difficult to regain these areas if precautions are not taken for foreign markets, Gürer said, “There are serious costs from packaging to transportation. The producer cannot handle this burden.”
 
The frost could not be prevented even with the devices
Cemil Acer stated that extreme cold cannot be overcome with technical measures and said, “Nothing worked in this cold. Current systems do not work below -6 degrees. Even if we make investments, fruit buds are damaged. Therefore, an effective solution must be found against the frost disaster.”
 
Gürer: Product loss will not only hit farmers but also consumers
Gürer, who said that 1 million 363 thousand tons of apple production out of 4.5 million tons in Turkey was exported according to TÜİK data, stated that this year’s frost events will affect not only exports but also consumers. Gürer said, “The decrease in yields in export products such as apricots, grapes, citrus fruits and cherries will also have a negative impact on prices. Consumers will have difficulty in obtaining products throughout the summer.”
 
 
 
Source: CUMHA - CUMHURS NEWS AGENCY