TÜDKİYEB/Çelik: A Nationwide Mobilization is Necessary to Prevent Food Waste

Foreks - The Chairman of the Turkish Sheep and Goat Breeders Association (TÜDKİYEB), Nihat Çelik, expressed his expectations for the small ruminant livestock sector in 2025, stating, "We hope that it will be a year in which we confidently reach our goals based on the five-year roadmap for livestock determined by our Ministry."

In his statement, Çelik evaluated the expectations for the small ruminant livestock sector for 2025. He emphasized the necessity of increasing the number and productivity of small ruminants, noting that if red meat production is increased, the issues related to meat prices that constantly occupy the national agenda alongside imports will be resolved.

Çelik indicated that they wish for a year that makes both producers and consumers happy, stating, "Producers and consumers are like flesh and nail. The satisfaction of both our producers and citizen consumers is essential. If one side is unhappy, it is a sign that something is not going well. Therefore, we want the upcoming year to be one in which our producers produce much more, our consumers consume more at the most suitable prices, and both parties are happy."

Moreover, he stressed the importance of promoting the consumption of small ruminant meat and dairy products as much as production, highlighting that feeding our people with the meat and dairy products of lambs and goats grown in natural environments is crucial for raising strong generations.

Çelik stated that they desire 2025 to be a year of mobilization in terms of agricultural production as well as preventing food waste, noting, "In 2025, a comprehensive mobilization should be declared to ensure increases in agricultural production and to prevent food waste based on the thought that those who waste will go bankrupt. All issues that hinder the mobilization towards increasing production should be eliminated. The most important of these is reducing the production costs for breeders. If this cannot be achieved, we will not be able to realize the expected developments in production. In this sense, feed costs are a significant burden for our breeders. Necessary studies must be conducted regarding feed, and special importance must be given to closing the existing rough feed gap. Support provided to livestock must be increased further to continue its positive reflections on the sector. At the end of this mobilization, it will clearly be seen that there is no reason for us to be a country that imports rather than one that feeds its people abundantly and exports."

Çelik pointed out that the shepherd problem has reached a critical point in recent years but noted that important work and developments have occurred in solving this issue, adding that he hopes for a period from 2025 onwards where the shepherd problem is no longer discussed.

To achieve the targets set in small ruminant livestock next year, he requested the strengthening of the associations, stating, "Our country is the geography of small ruminant livestock. It is a profession inherited from our ancestors. Small ruminant livestock is fundamentally a solution to the insurmountable problems in animal husbandry. Therefore, for this sector to be strong, our associations, which are the rightful owners of the sector, must also be strong from a legal, financial, and administrative standpoint. Concrete steps in this regard will provide significant momentum to our sector. In the coming years, we will strive to elevate this sector to the summit and achieve the set goals, hand in hand with our esteemed President, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and other stakeholders who have always supported us."

Chairman Çelik wished for 2025 to be a fruitful and profitable production year for breeders, producers, and farmers, and extended his wishes for a happy new year to all citizens.