Turkey: Local lentils are untimely expensive

Duygu Erdoğan - In the production of lentils, which was hit by drought last season, there are problems again in the new planting season. Decreases are expected in red and green lentil plantings due to both drought and the preference of producers who find insufficient support. These problems began to reflect on the consumer as well. While the price of the same branded product in the market in April was around 17 liras in common brands in Turkey, now the weight of domestic red lentils is 25 liras. Local green lentils, which were 17.90 liras on the same date, are sold for 20 liras. For the imported products of the same products, the price is around 12-15 liras. Agricultural Writer Ali Ekber Yıldırım evaluates that drought is an important factor in lentil prices, but on the other hand, states that the consumer's awareness of consuming 'domestic products' can be used by companies. Yıldırım said, “Especially, consumers in a certain income group now prefer domestic products. However, ...