The General Manager of the Agricultural Products Office (TMO), Ahmet Güldal, stated that TMO is currently one of the companies in the world with the largest stock of grains, mentioning that “93% of our stock belongs to Turkish farmers.”

The General Manager of the Agricultural Products Office (TMO), Ahmet Güldal, answered questions during the “3rd IAOM Eurasia Conference and Exhibition” held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, organized by the International Association of Millers (IAOM) Eurasia Regional Presidency. Indicating that the cereal harvest season is approaching its end, Güldal mentioned that there has been a slight decrease in production compared to 2023, and partially due to the impact of drought, there has been a loss in yield.

“HAVING A STRONG STOCK LOAD” Güldal remarked on the decrease in productivity, especially in inland areas due to excessively high temperatures, stating, “Apart from that, we have a strong stock load. This year, we also supported the producers by purchasing their products. The year 2024 is over, and preparations for 2025 have begun. Some fields have started being plowed and prepared.”

“WE ENCOURAGE PLANTING BASED ON TMO’S RECOMMENDATIONS”

Encouraging producers to use certified seeds and plant during the most suitable time according to soil conditions, Güldal continued, saying: “Using certified seeds increases yield and using seeds suitable for the region helps maintain the value of the product at a maximum level. Some varieties are used just because they have slightly higher yields but are of lower quality. We share and announce our observations made on time in the fields. We recommend planting suitable varieties for your region, climate, and soil by seeking advice from agricultural provincial and district directorates as well as TMO.”

“FARMERS SHOULD WHOLEHEARTEDLY EMBRACE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION PLANNING” “Farmers should wholeheartedly embrace agricultural production planning,” said Ahmet Güldal, emphasizing the importance of the agricultural production planning that will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in the coming season. He stressed that Turkey cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Güldal mentioned that the legal infrastructure and regulations for agricultural production planning have been announced, and the public has been informed. He said, “It is crucial for our farmers to fully embrace the production planning to avoid the problem we have encountered for years, which is ‘overproduction in one product and underproduction in another product within the same year.’ The Ministry has shown determination, and our farmers should fully embrace it. In addition to them, sectors involved in trading and industry should also actively engage in contract farming.” Güldal stated that this planning is crucial for farmers to earn more steadily and ensure agricultural sustainability.

“Our stocks are a national asset”

Güldal stated that there was talk of a grain shortage during the early days of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine War, but the situation has changed in the last two years. “We are having abundant seasons. Therefore, we are witnessing abundance. The high level of our stocks indicates this. TMO is currently one of the companies in the world with the largest stock of grains. There is also the rumor that ‘TMO’s warehouses are filled with imported wheat.’ That is not true.

We only have a small amount of imported stock remaining from times of drought for our needs, for safety, which is around 7-8%. 93% of our stock belongs to Turkish farmers. These stocks are very valuable, a national asset. We bought 13.1 million tons last year, and 5 million tons this year. We have purchased more than 18 million tons in two years. We have sold some of it, of course. We manage a live market. These numbers decrease or increase day by day, month by month. However, we have entered the consumption period now. Our purchases for grain products except for rice and hazelnuts have ended.” Güldal mentioned that they will continue to offer and evaluate this wealth to the market until the new harvest season.

“NONE OF THE PRODUCTS SENT TO US IN 2024 WERE RETURNED”

Ahmet Güldal mentioned that it is not true that TMO occasionally rejects products, providing the following information: “The Agricultural Products Office has certain standards for each product it buys. We check them with devices. If the producer brings the product according to these criteria, there is no question of returning it. Indeed, this did not happen at all in 2024. It had happened partially in 2023. The reason for this is that wheat affected by rust disease due to lack of spraying came, and we could not accept them. There was a reason why we didn’t accept. Because if you accept it, you cannot preserve it in the warehouse for a long time, and it will rot. Besides, rust disease spreads in the warehouse as well. Thanks to our sensitivity in 2023, the producers paid attention to this, and we did not encounter such a situation in 2024.”

“WE METICULOUSLY PRESERVE OUR PRODUCTS”

Referring to claims that products are rotting in open stack warehouses, TMO General Manager Güldal stated that they provide detailed explanations point by point and technically demonstrate that the allegations are manipulative. Güldal explained that the amount of loss allowed by the legislation is spelled out and emphasized, “TMO has been applying the open stack storage method above ground for years and is one of the most experienced organizations in this regard. It is the same worldwide. It is not as simple as going to an ordinary field and spreading soil or wheat. There are many criteria in its regulations: the slope of the land, the groundwater level below, the precautions taken for its preservation after the stack is made, security with camera systems, wire fence systems, measures taken against vermin… There are many criteria. We meticulously preserve these products that we consider a national asset. In fact, we are in a sales period now and have started selling from the open stacks. Interested people can go anywhere in Turkey. They can go and see the loading in open stack areas, take videos. They can talk to the people there and those who buy the product.

They will see for themselves that the products have not deteriorated and there is no problem. If there were even a small problem at any point, the personnel responsible for checking, making, and monitoring the stack would be held accountable. They would not want to get into such a situation. Therefore, these are manipulative statements.” Güldal concluded by expressing positive expectations for the upcoming planting season, hoping for a healthy, stable, problem-free production season that is less affected by climatic and external factors. Güldal urged farmers to use certified seeds, fertilize adequately, and timely carry out weed control, with the belief that Turkey will achieve a production close to the normal production quantity in 2025.