Türkiye’s agricultural sector is grappling with soaring costs as the Agricultural Input Price Index (Agricultural-IPI) surged by 29.73% in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) reported Tuesday.

The index, which tracks price changes for goods and services used by farmers, also rose 1.80% month-on-month.

Using 2020 as the base year (2020=100), the Agricultural-IPI climbed 10.32% since December 2024 and 36.16% based on the twelve-month moving average, signaling persistent inflationary pressures. Input prices for goods and services currently consumed in agriculture increased by 2.08% monthly and 29.10% annually, while investment-related inputs, such as machinery and infrastructure, saw a steeper annual rise of 33.53%, with a modest 0.15% monthly uptick.

Veterinary expenses led the surge, skyrocketing 55.87% year-on-year and 4.31% month-on-month, marking the highest increase among all subcomponents. Rising costs for essentials like fertilizers, energy, and veterinary care are straining Turkish farmers, threatening food production and driving up consumer prices.

The Agricultural-IPI’s steady climb underscores broader economic challenges in Türkiye’s agricultural sector, with input cost inflation posing risks to long-term sustainability and food security. (ILKHA)