Turkey’s grain production increases but food prices stay high

Although Turkey is expected to produce more wheat, corn, barley and rice in 2022-23, it is still facing record food prices, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Turkey is continuing to struggle with rising food inflation, stemming from a variety of factors, the USDA said. Food and beverage prices in 2022 increased 78% year-over-year.

The government has taken various measures to keep prices from going higher, including tariff cuts and market intervention.

Wheat production is forecast at 17.25 million tonnes, up more than 1 million tonnes year-over-year. Looking ahead to 2023-24, there are signs that dry weather has returned, sparking concerns that winter wheat yields could drop, the USDA said.

Barley production is expected to reach 7.4 million tonnes but also faces the same dry weather challenge for the 2023-24 crop.

Corn production is forecast at 6.8 million tonnes, an increase of 300,000 from the official USDA estimate and up year-over-year by the same amount. This projected increase is attributed to higher-than-expected yields and a marginal increase in area harvested in the middle part of the country, the USDA said.

Total paddy rice production forecast at 600,000 tonnes (milled) is up slightly year-over-year.

Tags: food prices, Turkey, paddy rice, barley, rice, winter wheat, Production, wheat, yields, forecast, Market, food inflation, corn