Turkey: Olive Production Costs 50 Lira, Farmers Sell at 20 — Record Season Threatens Producers with Bankruptcy

Turkey's olive sector is bracing for a historic record in the 2026-2027 season, with forecasts reaching 4.03 million tons. Yet this exceptional harvest translates to no profit for farmers: production costs stand at 50 lira per kilogram while producers can only find buyers at 20 lira.

This sharp gap between cost and price, compounded by rising maintenance and harvesting expenses, leaves small farmers facing a dilemma: abandoning their harvest unpicked in the trees, according to sector experts. The situation is no different for olive oil, which is also selling below production cost.

Sector experts have warned of the risk that small producers will abandon their land if this pattern persists, amid an absence of policies that would rebalance market forces in the farmer's favor against large buyers.