Aydın Tüfekçi, the Chairman of the Istanbul Retail Butchers Tradesmen Chamber, said, “This is something we experience every year after Eid al-Adha, namely a price decline. However, this year, unfortunately, there is a decline due to the lack of work, the decrease in our tradesmen’s business, and tourism decreasing meat. Our tradesmen are currently experiencing a 50-60 percent loss of business. Therefore, we are in a recession. Prices have also come back due to this recession. Since demand has decreased, all of our tradesmen’s expenses continue to increase. Our expenses continue to increase. However, there is a 50-60 percent decline in our sales. This puts our tradesmen in a difficult situation.”
“FEED PRICES NEED TO BE SAID ‘STOP'”
Tüfekçi said, “Right now, both our tradesmen and our livestock breeders are in trouble. Since feed prices have increased, our villagers are also in trouble. Especially small family livestock breeders are in trouble because of feed. As we have said before, our small family livestock breeders should definitely be supported and feed support should be given. Because, right now, they are loading straw for 70 cents, and its cost to Tekirdağ is 4 liras. In other words, it costs 4 liras with the labor cost and fuel cost. This is something that is breaking the back of our livestock breeders. Therefore, feed prices should definitely be stopped.”
“THERE IS A 30 LIRA DECREASE IN LAMB PRICES”
Tüfekçi said, “As I always say in the summer, there is a decrease after the holiday. This year, there is a stagnation because there is a decrease in tourism. There is a decrease in prices due to this stagnation; but this does not mean that it will continue to decrease. Tomorrow, when schools open in September, there will definitely be a return to normal work. There will also be an increase in prices; but right now, our livestock breeders are in a difficult situation. There is also a decrease in the population of Istanbul. Those who can go on vacation, those who cannot go go to their families. I received some data today. On average, I received data from Erzurum, Maraş, Konya, İskenderun, Balıklesir, Bursa. There is a decrease of about 30 liras in our average lamb prices. The same applies to veal. The Meat and Milk Institution gives the meat it brings from abroad to chain markets and meat industrialists. These places also need to sell it cheaply to the public. Our tradesmen do not buy meat from the Meat and Milk Institution. They buy meat from the normal market. “The prices of minced meat are between 580 and 680 lira. Those who sell the meat of the Meat and Milk Institution sell it as minced meat for 320-340 lira. This is also damaging to our citizens,” he said.
“THERE WAS A DECREASE OF 50 LIRA, BUT IT WAS NOT REFLECTED ON SALES”
Shopkeeper Muzaffer Duman said, “Since there was not much work after Ramadan, it didn’t make much difference anyway. Before Ramadan, there were many consecutive increases of 20 liras. There was a decrease after Ramadan, but there was no decrease in luxury meats. Not all meat is the same price in workplaces or slaughterhouses. Since there was no work this time, it didn’t make a difference in sales. Sales are stagnant again. The purchasing power has also disappeared, meat is now 600 liras, not everyone can buy it anyway, we just left Eid al-Adha. There was a 50 lira difference between the previous prices and the prices in Ramadan. Now, according to him, there has been another 50 lira decrease, but it hasn’t been reflected in sales.”
Butcher Muharrem Sağır said, “These prices being so exaggerated are not a matter of 3 or 6 months. Carcass meat has reached 370, now it is 335 liras. People buy chicken. If they had money, no one would buy chicken. These prices are expensive now, but they have not fallen as much as they say. There is no work anyway. How will people buy a kilo of meat for 500-600 liras? 2-3 people can eat it easily if they sit down.”
Customer Gürsel Abukan, referring to the daily expenses of large families, said, “We pay a lot and eat a small amount. We also need to think like this. You can finish 550 liras worth of meat in a day. It is not enough for 7-8 people. Therefore, I think it is not enough for a family that consumes a lot.”