16 February 2025 Sunday
CHP Delegation Visits Aydın Commodity Exchange to Address Agricultural and Livestock Sector Challenges
A delegation from the Republican People's Party (CHP), including Deputy Chairman for Treasury and Finance Yalçın Karatepe, Aydın MPs Bülent Tezcan and Evrim Karakoz, Hatay MP Mehmet Güzelmansur, Tekirdağ MP İlhami Özcan Aygun, Aydın Metropolitan Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, and Efeler Mayor Anıl Yetişkin, visited the Aydın Commodity Exchange to discuss challenges in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
The delegation was welcomed by Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur, Assembly President A. Bahri Erdel, and other board and assembly members. During the meeting, Çondur highlighted the exchange’s contributions to regional economic growth and addressed key sectoral issues.
Çondur underscored the impact of aflatoxin and ochratoxin contamination on the dried fig industry, stressing that seasonal factors and rapid drying processes contribute to toxin formation. He warned that rising toxin levels threaten Turkey’s competitiveness in international markets, leading to economic and environmental losses.
The discussion also covered the ongoing restrictions on olive oil exports. Çondur criticized the three-year export ban, stating that it has led to a loss of market confidence and negatively affected producers and exporters. He emphasized the need for sustainable policies to prevent future disruptions, particularly during periods of low production in Mediterranean countries.
Çondur further called for measures to support agricultural production, including reducing input costs, increasing subsidies for fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds, and lowering energy costs. He expressed appreciation for the delegation’s visit, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in addressing sectoral challenges.