‘Meat lobby’ on job to raise Turkey's imports: Chamber head

ANTALYA – Anadolu Agency

Producers worry that the government may import meat to control prices. DHA photo

“Meat lobbies” are getting into the act to encourage meat imports ahead of the Feast of Sacrifice, a prominent sector leader has said, warning that imports could undermine local production.

“In the first quarter, [Turkey’s] production reached 200,000 tons. It indicates a 27 percent increase from the same period last year. If you open the door for imports while the meat production is rising, it would be axed. This is what meat lobbies want,” Turkish Agricultural Chambers Union (TZOB) President Şemsi Bayraktar told Anadolu agency.

Bayraktar said the group he called the “meat lobby” is the one gaining benefits from imports.

The meat price per kilogram recently rose to 15.75 Turkish Liras from 14 liras at the beginning of July, which prompted the state meat regulator to step in to halt rapid rise.

Two weeks ago, the General Directorate of the Meat and Dairy Institute (ESK) has made cash payments to stockbreeders to quickly increase meat supply in the market and many are concerned the next step could be to import meat from abroad.