E-Haberler 
Aydın, one of the important centers of strawberry production in Turkey, is facing difficulties due to increasing costs. Producers, who turn strawberries into a fruit that can be consumed in winter and autumn seasons by growing them in greenhouses, are experiencing tough times due to the increase in fertilizers and agricultural pesticides. Senadin Sıdki, one of the strawberry producers, stated that the income does not cover the expenses. He emphasized that they sell strawberries at affordable prices so that people from all walks of life can afford to eat them, but he pointed out that strawberries, which are sold in different cities in markets and supermarkets, are priced at 100 TL and above.
COSTS ARE NOT COVERED
Sıdki, who stated that he cannot make any profit, said, “According to the increase in fuel and fertilizer, strawberries in the field should cost 50 TL today. However, we don’t want it to be 50 TL for people to consume strawberries. We sell strawberries here for 30 TL, but in Istanbul, it is sold for 100 TL per kilogram. Even though I am a producer, not a worker, I cannot make ends meet. I take my product to the market. The commission I pay to the market does not cover the cost of strawberries. This has to stop. Support should be given to the producers.” Sıdki emphasized that producers cannot make a living due to the increase in costs and workers’ wages, and pointed out that consumers cannot afford strawberries due to high prices, drawing attention to the economic crisis.
“WE WANT IT TO BE SOLD AT ITS VALUE”
Hikmet Tepe, who has been a strawberry producer for about 10 years, drew attention to the situation of the producers by saying, “The money for the crates and the commission of the market is deducted from strawberries, which are bought here for 20-30 liras. When you add daily wages, plastic, iron, electricity, water, and fuel, there is no profit left.” Tepe listed the problems they experienced with the following words: “The strawberries are bought from the producers for 30 TL. But they are sold in supermarkets for 150 TL. Who is benefiting from this? Is it the worker or the producer? They buy it from me for 30 TL and travel for 4-5 hours, then sell it for 150 TL in the market. This situation is a cruelty to the consumers, producers, and workers. If the producer does not make a profit, no one will. We want our product to be bought at its value. Traders set a price here. I have to sell it. Because I don’t have the capacity to store the product.”
“SUPPORT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE PRODUCER”
Hikmet Tepe stated that although Turkey has very fertile lands, its economy is deteriorating. He expressed that the lands in Aydın alone could feed half of the country with their olive, wheat, walnut, and strawberry production. Tepe said, “Livestock in Turkey has been destroyed today. We buy meat from foreign countries. If these problems are to be solved, support should be given to the producers.”
WORKERS ARE COMPLAINING
The workers who work in strawberry harvest are also troubled, just like the producers. Elmas Tolmaç, one of the workers, stated that she has been working as an agricultural worker for 35 years but cannot get the value of her labor. Tolmaç said, “There are snakes and insects in the field. If we have health problems, the boss does not take responsibility. After finishing our work here, we work at home. We get very tired, but we have to work. Despite that, the daily wages of men are higher than ours. Men and women do the same job, but our wages are not equal. Even if our daily wages increase, they won’t be useful if the economy doesn’t improve.”
FORCED TO DROP OUT OF SCHOOL
Şevin Tolmaç, who won admission to the 9 September University Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, drew attention to the difficulties she faced by saying, “I couldn’t allocate a budget for school.” Tolmaç listed the economic problems that students face and said, “I was not given a dormitory or scholarship. Therefore, I had to drop out of school. Now I work in the field with my mother, but we cannot get the value of our labor. As a young person, I want to go out with my friends, go to the cinema, but I can’t do it. If I say I will have a coffee with my friend outside, it costs 70 TL. As a young person, I want to socialize, but I can’t even buy a concert ticket. The only thing we do is go from home to work and from work to home.”
“THE DAILY WAGE DOES NOT COVER MARKET NEEDS”
Besime Tepe, one of the workers who stated that they have to work in hot weather in summer and cold weather in winter, said that the daily wages they receive do not cover their market needs. Tepe, who stated that the responsibility for the economic crisis lies with the government, said, “They have been in power for 20 years, and we haven’t been able to recover. Even if they increase our daily wages to 1000 TL, it won’t matter because the economy is bad. The minimum wage has become 17 thousand liras, but the price of everything increased the next day.”
