ÇAYKUR quota pushed producers to the private sector

ÇAYKUR's quota and allocation restrictions forced tea producers to sell their products to the private sector at lower prices. Producers demand a base price...

Scraper SystemJune 04, 2026, 11:43 AM

The tea policies implemented by the General Directorate of Tea Enterprises (ÇAYKUR) affected approximately 205 thousand tea producers. The announcement of the fresh tea purchase price as 35 TL for 2026 fell short of the producers' expectation of at least 40 TL plus 3 TL support. After the price expectations were not met, producers faced a second problem. Due to the quota and allocation restrictions applied in the tea campaign launched by ÇAYKUR in May, many producers became unable to sell their products to the institution. Producers who could not deliver their tea to ÇAYKUR had to turn to private sector companies and sell their products at about 27 TL, well below 35 TL. There are concerns that these prices may fall further if purchasing problems continue. On the other hand, the fact that producers had to transport fresh tea to warehouses on their own due to ÇAYKUR not making purchases also caused reactions. It is stated that tea was damaged and spoiled due to waiting at some purchasing points. Hundreds of producers in the Black Sea Region, especially in Rize, as well as Trabzon, Giresun, and Artvin, reacted to the situation. Producers are trying to raise public awareness of their difficulties through videos shared on social media. THE MAIN REASON FOR YOUR PROBLEMS IS THE AKP GOVERNMENT THAT HAS NOT ENACTED A TEA LAW TO PROTECT PRODUCERS FOR YEARS Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi Rize Provincial Chairman Saltuk Deniz, commenting on the problems faced by tea producers, said that a law to protect producers should be established. Deniz explained that as CHP, they have submitted legislative proposals in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to solve the problems of tea producers and said: We have been saying this for years but they ignore it, we submit proposals related to the tea law in the Parliament but they reject them. We hold press statements in the squares but they turn their backs. We call on our tea producers here, our devoted, patient, and suffering tea producers, the main reason for your problems is the AKP government that has not enacted a tea law to protect producers for years. They are the ones who say there can be no quota in tea. They are the ones who calculate tea prices like simit-tea. They are the ones who put ÇAYKUR into the Wealth Fund and sank it into a loss swamp. They are the ones who promised permanent positions to seasonal workers but did not fulfill it. Recognize them. Know them. Express your reactions democratically. Say 'We are distressed, tired, and dying.' Demand the ballot box, say let there be elections as soon as possible. And send them away from power at the first election. ENACT A TEA LAW TO PROTECT PRODUCERS, IMPLEMENT A BASE PRICE APPLICATION FOR FRESH TEA Saltuk Deniz, emphasizing the need for a base price application in tea, said, "The issue is clear and the solution is simple. Enact a tea law to protect producers, implement a base price application for fresh tea. That is, it should be stated that purchasing below the announced price is prohibited. Then there will be no quota problem or allocation problem. Everything will be solved immediately. The Parliament, which came together very correctly to solve the problem of the hawkers, can also solve this problem in a short time. We say once again and loudly, enact a tea law to protect producers urgently, legalize the base price application for fresh tea, solve the citizens' problem. Dear tea producers; the reason for the problems you endure is the AKP government. Know this, do not forget this," he said.

ÇAYKUR quota pushed producers to the private sector

ÇAYKUR's quota and allocation restrictions forced tea producers to sell their products to the private sector at lower prices. Producers demand a base price...