13.03.2026 20:53
In the market places of the city center of Bursa, the price of a single cabbage ranges from 50 to 70 lira, while in the district of Yenişehir, located 60 kilometers away, hundreds of acres of cabbage have rotted in the fields as there were no buyers.
In Yenişehir, a leading region in vegetable production and export, cabbage farmers have suffered losses due to unsold cabbage. Producers have called for Agricultural Credit Cooperatives to purchase during periods of excess production.
CABBAGE PRODUCERS IN LOSS
Göksel Akkuş, a farmer in the Menteşe neighborhood of Yenişehir, stated that he planted 20 acres of cabbage this year and had to sell 10 acres for a lower price than he expected some time ago.
Emphasizing that the remaining 10 acres of cabbage has rotted in the field due to a lack of buyers, Akkuş said he spent approximately 200,000 lira on the 10 acres and incurred significant losses.
LAST YEAR, TRADERS DID NOT LEAVE US ALONE
Akkuş expressed that there would be no buyers for the overripe cabbage at this point, saying: "The cabbages should have been harvested 1-2 months ago. Traders did not buy them, citing excuses like there being little demand. Prices in the market range from 50 to 70 lira. One person bought from me for 10 lira and sold it online for 40-50 lira. Last year was very good. The price was 15-17 lira each, and traders did not leave us alone. This year, it is currently 3 lira, but no one is buying that either. Traders are not looking at us this year. I bought the seedlings for 5 lira. If I could sell them for 8 lira, I would have covered my costs, but it didn't happen."
"OUR LABORS AND MONEY WILL MIX WITH THE SOIL"
Stating that the new production season has arrived and he wants to utilize his field, Akkuş said, "Instead, I want to plant another product to recover my losses. I will chop the cabbage with my tractor shortly and plow the field. Right now, 25,000 cabbages are lying in the field. These cabbages will be fertilizer for the field. All our efforts and money will mix with the soil," he said.
Akkuş emphasized that during times of excess production, Agricultural Credit Cooperatives could purchase the products and provide them at reasonable prices in markets, requesting support in this matter.
Trader Fevzi Aksu stated that they are also complaining about the situation with cabbage as much as the farmers, saying, "I also buy but cannot sell. The government needs to provide support. Agricultural Credit Cooperatives can buy and evaluate this product. When the product is scarce, imports are made, and when there is a lot, it needs to be taken from the field. 25,000 cabbages are going to waste, which is a shame. In Yenişehir, similarly, hundreds of acres and hundreds of thousands of cabbages have rotted in the fields," he said.