11.12.2014 Ankara

TOBB Commodity Exchanges Council was hosted by TOBB president M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu with the attendance of Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker. Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the agriculture sector has become one of the most strategic sectors in the world and that structural reforms and transformation in this sector must be completed post-haste.

Hisarcıklıoğlu began his speech by thanking Minister Eker for his attendance and his contributions to the private sector. Stressing the importance of the agriculture sector, the TOBB President said, “The agriculture sector holds the same importance as the energy sector. These two main sectors determine global policy. We witnessed this firsthand during the tensions between Europe and Russia. Turkey has no energy resources; but, just as important, it is very rich in agricultural resources.”

- Latest technology in exchanges

Stating that they have made significant investments into modernization as the 113 commodity exchanges and TOBB, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have greatly increased the number of active exchange laboratories, authorized classification agencies and exchanges with livestock fields as well as providing service to producers, traders and industrialists in trading halls.

Also speaking in regards to registered warehousing Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the necessary legislation has passed through parliament and they’ve set up LİDAŞ along with TMO to lead the way for the private sector, which is now producing various registered warehousing investments, “Licensed warehousing will play an important in Turkey becoming a major player in the global agricultural market.”

- Rural to urban immigration

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the region they are located in is inhabited by 1.5 billion people with a trade volume of 365 billion USD in agricultural goods, said that becoming one of the 5 largest agricultural traders by 2023 is among their goals. He stressed the need to complete structural reforms and transformation in this sector post-haste.

Pointing out that one of the most significant issues facing Turkey to this end is the fact that arable land in Turkey is overly divided up, generally as a result of inheritance Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that this results in decreased output, falling far short of potential. He went on to state that efforts to consolidate arable land ownership are underway by the Ministry to this end.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also touched on future projects such as the cultivation of feed plants, milk production incentive and meat production, pointing out the need to integrate these issues into the new constitution.

- Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker

Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker touched on the efforts of the Ministry in regards to achieving 2023 goals in the field of agriculture such as the consolidation of arable land, the development of licensed warehousing, as well as the development of agricultural sector’s share in the economy.

Eker reported that they would be expanding the contract production for safflower, canola and soybean while also providing support for livestock for a total of 3 billion TRY in 2015 as well as transitioning to contract production model for raw milk.