Demir commenced his visit at the Gaziantep Commodity Exchange (GTB), where he met with GTB Chairman Mehmet Akıncı. During the meeting, Demir was briefed on the current status of the Antep pistachio harvest, including details on pricing, yield, and overall production.
Expressing concern for the challenges faced by pistachio growers, Demir noted that while the harvest has begun, farmers are once again facing disappointment with the prices, which do not reflect the effort they have invested. He called for the implementation of a minimum price for Antep pistachios, similar to the policies in place for tea and hazelnuts, to ensure that farmers can continue to produce.
"A price should be determined that can sustain our farmers, strengthen our agriculture and production, especially for Antep pistachios and all other products. If the price of the product harvested by our farmers falls below expenses or costs, the farmer will suffer losses. A farmer who cannot receive the return on their efforts will give up production. The farmer giving up production would not be good for our city, our country, and our nation. We must protect our farmers, agriculture, and Antep pistachios, which are the most important source of livelihood for this city," Demir stated.
Following the visit to the GTB, Demir traveled to the rural Dayıdağı neighborhood in Nizip district, where he met with pistachio growers. During the meeting, farmers shared their concerns about rising input costs, insufficient support, and low prices despite a good yield this year. They echoed Demir’s call for a minimum price, emphasizing the mismatch between production costs and selling prices.
The farmers expressed their appreciation for MP Demir's visit and his attentiveness to their issues.
Concluding his visit, Demir also toured the Pistachio Wholesalers' Site (GATEM) in Gaziantep, where he listened to the challenges faced by traders and received updates on pistachio prices. He assured the traders that their concerns would be addressed and emphasized the importance of pistachios to both the city and the country.
"Pistachios are very important for both our city and our country. We will work together to ensure that Antep pistachios reach their rightful place," Demir concluded. (ILKHA)