IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKET'S EQUILIBRIUM IN TURKEY

Karaman S., Kutlar İ.

FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN, sa.30, ss.9162-9171, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Dergi Adı: FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.9162-9171
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

COVID-19 has impacted many sectors in Turkey and the agricultural sector is no exception. This study assesses the price and quantity data of some selected agricultural products in Antalya Wholesale Market, which is the major fresh fruit and vegetable market in Turkey. In this context, the daily market equilibrium price and quantity, price volatility and price level variability of lemon, tomato, squash (sakiz) and pepper were compared and analysed for the periods from 01.02.2019 to 22.07.2019 and 01.02.2020 to 22.07.2020. In addition, face-to-face questionnaires were conducted between July 15-22, 2020 with 65 out of 144 commission agents in the wholesale market to collect information about the quantity, price and marketing channels of fresh fruits and vegetables sold in the wholesale market during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the data obtained, the commission agents stated that they had sold fresh fruits and vegetables to hotels, restaurants, school canteens and cafeterias before COVID-19, while they sold them mainly to stall-holders and supermarkets engaged in e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the quantity of pepper and tomato supplied during the COVID-19 pandemic was low compared to that in the same period of the previous year, the market price remained low with the decrease in demand. On the other hand, the quantity of squash (sakiz) supplied is less than the quantity supplied in the same period last year, and thus the prices are overall higher. With the increasing demand for disinfec-tion products where lemon is used as a raw material , the domestic and international demand for lemon has risen. The quantity of lemons supplied to the market is lower compared to that in the same period of the previous year and the price has gone up with the increase in demand. In this crisis period, the price volatility of lemon, tomato, squash (sakiz) and pepper is generally higher compared to the last year.