Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they shot two birds with one stone within the scope of this project, “In the 'Digital Market', where the contracted agricultural model is applied, the buyer and the seller come together at the beginning of the road and agree from the beginning. Everyone is aware of their responsibility. So with this mechanism, uncertainty declines in the market, everyone can see and plan. I believe that with the further development of this market in the future, supply and demand will be further balanced and prevent periodic price fluctuations in agricultural products.”

M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the Digital Agricultural Market is a project that will increase the efficiency of Turkey's agricultural ecosystem and balance supply and demand in the market.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech, noted ‘domestic production’ and ‘becoming a self-sufficient country’ discussions have been rekindled in the process of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, expressing that concepts such as competence in agriculture, domestic and national production and food safety have become even more important in this process.

Stating that agriculture and food will be more important than ever in the years to come, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Fortunately, our country has managed to stand up to an unprecedented threat. A successful process is being carried out in the field of health under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, under the direction of Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca. We are one of the lowest impacted countries in the world.”

While many countries cannot give the necessary response to the outbreak, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that Turkey is one of the countries which has begun to discuss how to normalize the economy again, noting that the country is has come together, everyone doing what they can and continuing to do so.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, emphasizing that Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak has implemented very important steps in the field of economy, said:

“Our Central Bank meets the liquidity needs of our Treasury and public banks and markets. Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, innovated foreign trade, brought in contactless trade. This is how we can continue our exports even at a time when the borders are closed. Minister Pakdemirli, the first days of the outbreak by going on television gave confidence to both the producer and the consumer. Undoubtedly, the Digital Agricultural Market is a project that will increase the efficiency of our country's agricultural ecosystem and balance supply and demand in the market.”

- “We are an agriculture exporter country”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey is the first in Europe with 275 billion liras of agricultural product today and is in the top 10 in the world, noting that Turkey is a net exporter country with $18 billion in agricultural exports against $12.7 billion in imports.

He pointed out that the agricultural and livestock sectors have become sectors that give foreign trade surplus of $5.3 billion.

- Contract agriculture is becoming widespread in Turkey

Pointing out that contract agriculture is one of the most important systems used by developed countries in agricultural production, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that about 40% of the United States and about 50% of the European Union produce is contracted.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also expressed that Turkey’s contracted agricultural system approaching these rates, “One of the most important articles in the 60-point 'Declaration of Results' announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the closing ceremony of the Agricultural Summit, was the dissemination of contract agriculture.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are very pleased to be involved in these works as TOBB, and said that they will continue to work with 113 trade exchanges and product specialized exchanges for faster growth of the Digital Agricultural Market.

- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan

Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said in her speech that a more planned and predictable production structure will be created with the “Digital Agricultural Market” and that access to the market of small producers will be facilitated; that, “Digital Agricultural Market will bring a significant impetus to agricultural production and trade by bringing the buyer and seller together online.”

Pekcan, in her speech, noted the importance of food supply security and sustainability for health and well-being, stating that, “Strengthening the infrastructure in agricultural production contributes to increasing agricultural exports as well as meeting our country's agricultural products needs.”

Noting that access to healthy and reliable agricultural products and the importance of being a self-sufficient country in agriculture has emerged due to the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, Pekcan expressed satisfaction with the implementation of “Digital Agricultural Market.”

- Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak

Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, addressing the opportunists who are charging exorbitant price increases and stockpiling, “Once we are through this Covid-19 process, its intensity and curfews come to pass, and the normalization process begins, we will be taking much tougher steps as a Ministry.”

Albayrak connected to the introductory meeting of the Digital Agricultural Market (DITAP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry via video conference.

Albayrak pointed out that they are working on structural steps that will prevent the volatility in food prices for a long time and remove food inflation from the agenda, and said that some steps have been implemented in the Food Committee within this scope.

Albayrak, stated that at core of this process lies the concept of establishing the fairness of the chain from the field to the table, “The outbreak of Covid-19 that we face today showed to Turkey and the world how important food supply security, the security of this chain is. In times of global crisis, where trade is disrupted and countries are trying to survive with their own means, the world has seen that food supply security is an issue of utmost importance.”

- Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli stated that with digital agricultural market (DITAP), the chain from seed to fork can be monitored, “Our farmers will be able to easily find a market for their products, our consumers and tradesmen will be able to supply the product to the quality and standard that they are looking for.”

Pakdemirli conducted the introduction of DITAP at the online conference attended by Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan.

Pointing to the importance of the system, Pakdemirli said, “With DITAP, our farmers will be able to easily find a market for their products, our consumers and tradesmen will be able to supply the product with the quality and standard they seek.”

Noting that the world is going through a difficult process because of Covid-19, Pakdemirli said that Turkey has successfully carried out this process against the pandemic thanks to its measures and its strong infrastructure.

Pakdemirli, stating that the food sector is the only sector that continues to produce and increase capacity during the epidemic process, said:

“We need to innovate for agriculture and food during this period and most importantly prepare for the aftermath of the pandemic. If we emerge stronger from this difficult process, our country's place and position in the world will be different from now. It will also be due to effective agricultural policies that we can get out of this distress stronger.”

- Question answers

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli on the questions, stated that the platform aims to aimed to bring together retailers, wholesalers, producers, small producers, and all such segments, but that they will make the voice of the small producer greater.

Pakdemirli pointed out that the relevant units of the ministry are working on the ability to provide agricultural supports to small family enterprises starting next year, “After a while, we naturally have to wait for our agricultural supports to evolve towards farmers who have contracted production. It's a matter of time and process, but we're going to evolve here. If there is contract production, we will be behind them in supporting small family businesses, especially agricultural supports.”

Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan said that they will strive to use this platform effectively and efficiently with all stakeholders, and that “We have already worked together with our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the export of agricultural products. We are also trying to work towards increasing exports with the increase of agricultural production.”