Minister Bolat: 682,331 heads of animals were imported in 10 months

Niğde Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Ömer Fethi Gürer pointed out that the cause of this negative situation is the decline in the animal population, which is also reflected in the prices of meat and milk, as well as meat and dairy products in our country, where the number of live animals is constantly decreasing.

In his statement, Gürer recalled the speeches of previous Agriculture and Forestry Ministers in which they stated that they would end animal imports in 2023. Trade Minister Ömer Bolat highlighted that the figures he gave are worrying. He stated that this year there was again a significant increase in animal imports.

ANIMAL PRESENCE CONSTANTLY DECREASES

Gürer noted that as feed prices and stable costs increased, small family-type businesses sold their animals and, despite warning the government, the necessary precautions were not taken and a solution was finally sought. through imports. Ömer Fethi Gürer, reminding that cows, pregnant cows and heifers are sent to the slaughterhouse while the animal population decreases, said: “According to TÜİK data, the bovine population, which was 17 million 876 thousand in 2023, decreased to 16 one thousand 667 thousand today. “Similarly, the number of small livestock, which was 58 million, decreased to 53 million,” he said.

Stating that in the Presidency’s budget justification for 2024, meat production was 1 million 827 thousand tons, compared to 1 million 954 thousand tons planned for 2023, Gürer said: “The goal for 2024 is 1 million 727 thousand, The estimated goal for 2025 is 1 million 764 thousand and the estimated goal for 2026 is 1 million 788 thousand”, it was announced as. “In light of this data, it appears that meat production is gradually declining,” he said.

THEY SAID WE WILL END THE IMPORTS…

CHP’s Gürer asked Trade Minister Ömer Bolat during budget negotiations to explain how many live animals and how much meat were imported in the first ten months of this year.

Gürer asked: “How much foreign currency went abroad? Who cares about this? It would be beneficial if these were known to the public. How many customs duties were waived in 2022 and 2023 by zeroing customs duties? What is the distribution of the number of types of food products imported by country this year? Although the objective is to balance the prices of imported products, why not prevent them from appearing on the shelves as more expensive than the national product? Questions requested.

682 THOUSAND 331 HEADS OF ANIMALS WERE IMPORTED IN 10 MONTHS

Minister Bolat responded in writing to the question posed to him as follows:

“Our live animal imports were 682,331 heads ($864 million) in the first ten months of 2023, and our meat imports were 26,954 tons ($181 million) in the same period. On imports of live animals, customs duties of 0 percent are imposed on farmed cattle and sheep, 26 percent on cattle intended for slaughter, and 40 percent and 135 percent on sheep. and goat, respectively.

*As for meat imports, a customs tariff of 40 percent is applied to carcass meat, 100 percent to sheep and 225 percent to boneless meat.

*On the other hand, imports of live animals and meat are subject to control in matters of health and human safety and existence and health of animals and plants in accordance with the Communiqué on Control of Imports of Products Subject to Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. . (Product safety and control: 2023/5).

‘THE IMPORT OF ANIMALS THROUGH Türkiye IS CONSIDERED’

Gürer also mentioned that it is encouraging that Turkey imports live animals and meat from abroad, despite having the characteristics to raise self-sufficient animals, and said: “The political power watched while the cows were slaughtered. Relatively speaking, meat prices seemed low that day, but the animal population declined afterwards. Since the animal imported today will give birth within 2 years, the livestock shortage in Turkey will continue for at least 2 years, and even if a solution is sought through imports, the situation will reach a point where the poor and the poor will not even be able to access meat and dairy products.” he said.