Alas: Potato Price Fluctuations Result from Years of Agricultural Mismanagement

In a written statement, Alas explained that potato prices in Turkey and Southern Cyprus are lower than in the TRNC due to long-standing agricultural errors in the region.

He emphasized that these price fluctuations are not isolated incidents but rather the result of ongoing agricultural issues. To address the problem, Alas proposed several key actions. First, he stressed the importance of determining the country’s population accurately to assess real annual and seasonal food needs, which would allow for better production planning. He also called for the development of post-harvest storage and industrial facilities to manage surplus crops, which would help protect producers and ensure food accessibility for consumers.

Alas further suggested that agricultural technology should be prioritized over subsidies to reduce costs, particularly labor, and improve the quality of production. He also recommended supporting the cultivation of crops that meet local demands when export markets are lost, making more efficient use of the country's limited water and soil resources. Additionally, he proposed revisiting regional crop planning to account for the different climatic conditions across the TRNC.

Finally, Alas urged politicians to replace populist and nationalistic rhetoric with an honest dialogue about the real challenges the agricultural sector faces. He stressed that while the TRNC has the necessary experts to implement these changes, proper planning, based on accurate population data, is essential. Without these reforms, Alas warned that the agricultural sector would continue to experience chaos, with soaring prices, exploitation by certain groups, and further struggles for both producers and consumers.