When farmers suffer losses, they turn to chemicals

When farmers suffer losses, they turn to chemicals

In June, a large quantity of agricultural pesticides was detected in batches of peppers shipped to Bulgaria. Pesticide use in the country is almost three times the global average. Noting that producers might disregard public health because they cannot even cover their costs, Turkish Agricultural Engineers’ Association (ZMO) President Kapıkıran stated that the solution lies in employing agricultural engineers

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In June, a large number of agricultural pesticides were detected in batches of hot and sweet peppers intended for shipment to Bulgaria.

The successive detection of high levels of pesticide residues in peppers exported by Turkey has raised concerns about the peppers sold in markets and shops. Hasan Murat Kapıkıran, Chairman of the Board of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers under the Turkish Chamber of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), stated that the neglect of education in agriculture means that producers are using toxic chemicals incorrectly or in excessive doses, thereby threatening public health.

He noted that, partly as a result of the current economic crisis, farmers—knowing they would be unable to recoup their costs in the event of crop failure—are disregarding public health out of a desire to avoid losses and are using chemicals in excess.

Kapıkıran emphasised that every farmer needs an agricultural engineer as an adviser, stating: “Agricultural engineers must be completely independent and receive their salaries through the Ministry. Just as in medicine or veterinary science; the farmer should not be able to obtain the pesticide themselves; the agricultural engineer must issue a prescription, collect the pesticide and personally ensure it is applied in the correct dosage and with protective equipment. ‘This system would also resolve the employment issues faced by agricultural engineers,’ he said.

THREE DIFFERENT ALERTS ON THE SAME DAY

In the first days of June alone, a total of notifications concerning peppers originating from Turkey were recorded in the European Union Food Alert System. All of these notifications were published following inspections carried out at the Bulgarian border.

According to RASFF records, three separate notifications published on June revealed residues of acetamiprid, tebufenpyrad and formetanate in peppers shipped from Turkey. All notifications were classified as ‘serious risk’ and the products were not permitted to enter the European Union market.

FORMETANATE IN SWEET PEPPERS

The situation is no different for sweet peppers. Analyses dated June revealed formetanate residues of 0.121 mg/kg. As the permitted upper limit for this substance is 0.01 mg/kg, the limit was exceeded by approximately times.

LIMIT EXCEEDED BY TIMES

One of the notifications published on June made the picture even more striking. Three different pesticides were detected simultaneously in a consignment of peppers sent from Turkey: acetamiprid, pymetrozine and thiochlorid. According to the analysis results: Acetamiprid: 0.300 mg/kg (limit 0.09 mg/kg), Pymetrozine: 0.110 mg/kg (limit 0.02 mg/kg), Thiocloprid: 0.169 mg/kg (limit 0.01 mg/kg) In particular, the thiocloprid level reached approximately times the legal limit.

The banned pesticide was found at times the permitted level in peppers. THREE TIMES THE AVERAGE

According to research conducted in 2025, the pesticide usage per hectare in the Turkish provinces with the highest pesticide use stands at 6.70 kg-lt, a figure nearly three times the global average.

The provinces with the highest pesticide usage are, in order: İzmir, Çanakkale, Bursa, Manisa, Mersin, Konya, Adana, Antalya, Malatya and Aydın. HEALTH IS BEING IGNORED

Hasan Murat Kapıkıran, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers under the Turkish Chamber of Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), stated: “Although the Ministry of Agriculture claims to carry out thirty thousand, fifty thousand or one hundred thousand routine inspections annually in the domestic market, these residue results will continue to emerge as long as the current system remains unchanged. ‘Over the past twenty-two years, the rendering of agricultural extension and education departments ineffective has further widened the gap in farmers’ education regarding pesticide use,’ he said.

He stated that the current problem stems from a shift away from traditional farming and the fact that producers lack agricultural engineers who can monitor the fields and prescribe the necessary pesticides. “Agricultural advisers in Turkey cannot independently inspect farmers (who are, in a sense, their employers) because they are paid by the chambers of agriculture,” he said.

Citing the UK model as a solution, Kapıkıran said, “The authority to apply pesticides should be granted exclusively to agricultural engineers who are completely independent and paid by the public sector (the Ministry of Agriculture). Farmers cannot purchase the pesticides themselves.

The engineer inspects the field, writes a prescription, collects the pesticide from the wholesaler, ensures the correct dose is applied under their supervision, and collects the empty pesticide containers to take them to a disposal facility. This system ensures residue-free food whilst also resolving the employment issue for agricultural engineers,” he added.

Noting that there are two types of pesticides, Kapıkıran continued: “Surface pesticides: these remain on the plant’s outer surface; they can be removed by 80–90% by washing with plenty of cold water and peeling the skin. Systemic pesticides: these penetrate the plant’s sap and interior.

It is impossible to remove them by washing or peeling; the health risks are much greater.”

Note: This article is translated from the original article titled Üretici zarar edince kimyasala yöneldi, published in BirGün newspaper on July 6, 2026.

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