30.01.2026 11:41
In Hatay, which experienced significant destruction in the earthquake on February 6, 2023, producers are struggling to find buyers for mandarins. Niyazi Arslan, a citrus producer from Samandağ, stated that there are no buyers even at 4.5 TL per kilogram, saying, "I will sell 1 ton of mandarins, and I will buy 1 kilogram of minced meat."
As the third anniversary of the earthquakes on February 6, 2023 approaches, Niyazi Arslan, a citrus producer affected by the earthquake in the Samandağ district of Hatay, stated that despite offering mandarins for 4.5 TL per kilogram, he could not find buyers and that producers are suffering due to incorrect agricultural policies.
Arslan said, "I have a heart condition. I announced 4.5 TL today. No one offered 6 TL. What will be left for me? Look, this one is a bit rotten, softened. They won't buy this. I am left with 1 TL per kilogram. I will sell 1 ton of mandarins, I will buy 1 kilogram of minced meat. There is a wrong agricultural policy here. If you allow citrus cultivation in the areas where cotton is to be planted in Adana, as the Ministry of Agriculture or as Agricultural Chambers, the result will be like this."
"THE WRONG AGRICULTURAL POLICY OF ÇUKUROVA AFFECTING US"
The farmer, stating that the earthquake has impacted trade, said, "Mandarins have been planted on 400,000 to 500,000 acres of land in Adana. After the earthquake, most exporters moved to Adana. We are facing a labor shortage here. Think of a trader. He will take it to the domestic market. There is a distance of 180-200 km between Adana and Hatay. The fuel difference needs to be added here. He won't be able to find workers either. He prefers and buys the goods from there. The wrong agricultural policy in Çukurova affects us. Whoever granted this permission made a mistake. There, plant cotton, wheat, dry beans, chickpeas, lentils. You are importing these from abroad. You are importing straw from abroad. If you turn Çukurova into citrus, the result will be like this. For example; just as the Ankara Municipality is establishing city restaurants, let the municipality buy from the producer at the same price every month from Hatay to the consumer. Let them buy from me at 5 TL. Let them sell to the consumer at 5 TL." he expressed.