After the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, the continuation of food production in 11 cities where the earthquake caused great damage and transportation to the 81 provinces of Turkey and the world through a food corridor gained vital importance. Turkish exporters will make positive discrimination to the producers by purchasing their products with priority in order for the earthquake-affected farmers to continue their production.
The term food corridor occupied the world agenda for a long time after the Ukraine-Russian Federation war. With the positive result of Turkey's mediation between Russia and Ukraine, the formula for Ukraine's products to reach the world through a food corridor was found.
Touching on the fact that Anatolian and Mesopotamian lands have been a food warehouse and a food corridor since the first days of human history, Aegean Exporters' Associations Deputy Coordinator and Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association President Hayrettin Aircraft said that these lands will continue to be productive for humanity after the earthquake, and that the producers who will cultivate these lands in the region. stressed the need to take the necessary measures to ensure
The earthquake caused great destruction; Wishing God's mercy to our citizens who lost their lives in Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, Uçar said, "Thanks to our country, our government, our non-governmental organizations, our companies. and we will bandage the wounds with our citizens,” he said.
Providing information about the production potential of fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, oilseeds and other food products in 11 provinces where the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes caused deep wounds, Uçar stated that 20 percent of Turkey's fruit production and 15 percent of its vegetable production are met by producers in 11 provinces. Plane continued his words as follows: “Cotton, apricots, almonds, table grapes, citrus products, watermelon, pepper for tomato paste, onion and wheat are just a few of the products that the earthquake region dominates in production. While Turkey exported 2022 billion dollars of food in 25, 11 provinces affected by the earthquake exported 7,4 billion dollars of food. The continuity of this export depends on the continuation of the production in these provinces. In order for the production to continue, our producers should be ensured to stay on their lands," he said.
“We will give priority to the products in the earthquake zone in exports”
Expressing that they are ready to provide all kinds of support as exporters for the continuation of production in the earthquake zone, Uçar continued his words as follows:
“In order for the food products in the earthquake region to reach the world and for these regions to maintain their producer position, great responsibilities fall on all the links of the chain. Our government needs to implement special incentives for this region. Local governments and development agencies should direct all their resources to the producers in these regions. As exporters, we want to take responsibility for our producers in the earthquake zone to return to their jobs. We will give priority to the export of products that will be produced in the fertile lands of this region. These fertile lands and our farmers who cultivate these lands have met the food needs of humanity throughout history. We will make every effort to continue to welcome them from now on.”
While 20 percent of Turkey's fruit production is done in earthquake provinces, when we look at the products; 26 percent of table grape production, 53 percent of apricots and 34 percent of almonds are produced in these provinces.
11 provinces where the earthquake caused deep wounds meet 12 percent of the vegetable production. 30 percent of Turkey's watermelon production, 28 percent of tomato paste production and 16 percent of dry onion production are grown in these lands with the efforts of the farmers in this region.
When cereals and other herbal products are examined; earthquake provinces receive 20 percent of wheat production and 72 percent of cotton production.
While 18 percent of Turkey's greenhouse vegetable production areas are located in earthquake provinces, watermelon and pepper paste are the products that stand out.
Earthquake provinces have succeeded in reflecting their power from production to exports. 11 cities inflicted with deep wounds by the earthquake receive 30 percent of Turkey's food exports. While the cereals, pulses, oilseeds sector is the leader in exports with an export of 3,5 billion dollars, our fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit and vegetable products sector exports 1,1 billion dollars. The total food export of this region reaches 7,5 billion dollars.