Erkut Şahali: "Cypfruvex Has Become a Political Farm"

Speaking live on Kıbrıs Postası TV's "Morning News" program, hosted by Canan Onurer, Şahali addressed the crisis in the citrus industry and criticized the government's agricultural policies.

"Cypfruvex Has Become a Political Farm"

Şahali stated, "Cypfruvex was once a highly specialized institution in fruit and vegetable exports, but over the years, it has turned into a political farm. There’s no one left focused on selling products to Cypfruvex; the main motivation has shifted to acquiring products."

He emphasized that the primary goal for producers is to see their products sold and that Cypfruvex should be effectively utilized in this process. Şahali warned that if the products, which are the result of the producers' hard work, cannot be sold on the market, both producers and exporters will face significant losses.

"The common interest should be the producers' sweat, which is their product. Without the product, there’s no contractor; without the contractor, there’s no exporter. A synchronized system where all these elements work together must be established, and this should be ensured by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cypfruvex, which is under state control," he added.

"Production Areas Have Decreased"

Şahali also made important statements regarding the causes of the ongoing crisis in the citrus industry. He warned, "Compared to last year, there has been a significant decrease in citrus production areas, and this situation will cause major problems not only this year but in the coming years as well."

He accused the government of being insensitive to the issues in the sector, negatively affecting producers' motivation. "If we are going to constantly face problems in harvesting and selling, why should we continue doing this?" Şahali said, highlighting the dire situation faced by producers.

"We Expect Solutions from Minister of Agriculture Hüseyin Çavuş"

Şahali also criticized the Minister of Agriculture, Hüseyin Çavuş, recalling that before becoming a minister, Çavuş was the head of the country's largest producer organization. "We are not expecting demands from Çavuş; we expect solutions," he said.

Şahali mentioned that the government's only proposed solution is the construction of a 40,000-ton cold storage facility, where products would be stored and later converted into concentrate at Cypfruvex. However, he stated that this proposal is insufficient and noted that there has been no official statement regarding the presence of the "greening disease," leaving producers in even greater uncertainty.

"Agricultural Budget Reduced"

Şahali pointed out that the budget allocated for the agricultural sector decreased from 3.8 million TL last year to 3.3 million TL this year, arguing that the government is not providing adequate support to producers.

"We have a government that is trying to placate us," Şahali remarked, harshly criticizing the government's agricultural policies.