Turkish Farmers Face Soaring Costs Despite Bumper Harvest

Ankara (ANTARA) - As combine harvesters sweep across the golden wheat fields of Golbasi District in Ankara, Türkiye, farmers can breathe a sigh of relief at a harvest exceeding expectations, thanks to abundant rainfall and favourable growing conditions.

However, the optimism brought by one of Türkiye’s strongest grain harvests in recent years is being tempered by an increasingly familiar challenge: soaring production costs, particularly for diesel, fuelled by the rekindled conflict in the Middle East.

Since the conflict between the United States and Iran reignited in early July following the collapse of a ceasefire, Türkiye has raised petrol prices three times, with retail prices per litre at filling stations climbing by around 14 Turkish lira (1 Turkish lira = Rp381), or 0.30 US dollars (1 US dollar = Rp18,088).

To shield consumers from sharp fluctuations, the Turkish government introduced a temporary fuel stabilisation mechanism in April, which will remain in place until October.

Nevertheless, farmers say the measure does little to offset rising costs during one of the busiest agricultural seasons of the year.

“This year’s harvest is better than usual compared with last year, but a high yield alone is not enough to save us,” wheat farmer Omer Temizsoy told Xinhua.

A line of trucks stood queued beside his freshly harvested field.

“Our costs have doubled compared with last year. Fuel prices keep rising almost every week,” he said, adding that fuel prices have surged from around 27 lira per litre last year to more than 70 lira currently.

Agriculture remains one of Türkiye’s strategic sectors, with the country among the world’s largest producers of wheat, barley, fruit and vegetables.

“The cost of feed, barley and fertiliser has risen sharply, whilst our profits have fallen,” said Uzum.

“Everything has become more expensive. We are struggling to keep up,” he said.

Abundant rainfall this year across much of Anatolia, the Asian heartland of Türkiye and the country’s main grain-producing belt, has driven a bumper harvest and raised expectations of stronger domestic supply.

Yet the improved yield does not automatically guarantee greater financial security. Alongside cost pressures, debt has become a heavy burden in rural areas.

“Almost 80 per cent of farmers have bank loans,” said Ismail Derin, another grain farmer in Golbasi.

Many have been forced to borrow simply to maintain production amid rising costs, he added.

This financial strain extends beyond the grain sector.

Sheep breeder Umut Uzum from Golbasi said soaring costs of feed, barley and fertiliser are increasingly squeezing livestock farmers and eroding their profit margins despite stable production.

Referring to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the breeder warned that events unfolding even thousands of kilometres away can have direct consequences for rural families.

As the last combine harvesters continue their slow journey across the wheat fields stretching beyond Ankara, a mix of relief and anxiety seems to have settled in the farmers’ minds.

Good weather has delivered a bumper harvest, but the farmers remain worried. Whether the abundant yield ultimately boosts their incomes will depend on factors far beyond the farmland itself.