Miller Magazine Issue: 144 December 2021

75 INTERVIEW MILLER / december 2021 half the market prices. However, various commitments stipulated by the institution causes confusion in the mar- ket. For example, TMO's demand for a very low-priced sales commitment for the entire factory capacity instead of asking for the amount that can be produced with the tonnage it supports has caused many manufacturers to not be able to use this support. This situation caused a further increase in the sales prices of raw materials in the market. Such low-priced raw material sales intimidate farmers who intend to plant and this causes a decrease in planting amounts. Instead of selling low-priced raw materials, it would be much more beneficial in every re- spect to support the end products offered by the produc- ers to the market under strict controls. We try to make our sales in cash to the extent possible. In this way, we are minimally affected by the exchange rate. Because as the exchange rate increases, the do- mestic market prices also increase. WHEAT PRICES WILL SOON EXCEED 400 DOLLARS Wheat exporting countries have imposed bans, restrictions and additional taxes. Taking into consid- eration also the loss of yield caused by the drought, more wheat imports loom on the horizon. All these cause price hikes. How further do you think prices will increase? At the Global Grain conference held in Geneva, Swit- zerland, we saw that international sector representatives shared these concerns. As a general view, it seems that the increase in agricultural commodity prices, especially wheat, will continue in the coming days. The quota to be imposed by Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, by the start of the New Year, seems to support the price increases. We estimate that wheat prices will exceed 400 USD/metric ton within a short period. TMO'S LOW PRICE WHEAT SALES REPULSE FARMERS FROM PRODUCTION What are the precautions to be taken for the grain industry, which is experiencing a challenging process? Exchange rate fluctuations and price increases in global commodities left the sector in a tight spot. Week- ly, even daily, price increases make the lives of the pri- vate sector players very difficult. Although there are many companies that can handle these fluctuations in the sector, there will be others who cannot maintain their commercial activities for sure. In particular, suppressing bread prices makes life difficult for bakers. In addition, the low-price sales made by TMO in an attempt to keep prices of some raw material under a certain level make the farmers drawback from these products for the next seed-time. The confidence that will enable the farmers to plant these crops must be given to them in some way