Turkish and global pulse markets and export competitiveness of Turkey

In Turkey, once the biggest producer and exporter of chickpea and lentils in the world, production amount and cultivation areas of pulses have dramatically declined since Turkish Grain Board ceased to buy pulse products. Exporters headed for foreign markets on re-export purposes, and pulses were even occasionally imported for domestic consumption. Pulse prices have increased to record high, which attracts public attention to pulses. Pulse producers in Turkey attain lower income due to high production cost, improper production methods, insufficient use of certificated seeds and low organization level of producers. Furthermore, producers experience difficulties of competition in foreign markets due to the high prices of their products with non-standard size, color and quality and discontinuous product supply. Primary precautions should be taken to decrease production costs and obtain cost-effective, standard size and high quantity of pulse products that suffice the demands of target markets, thus make the production more attractive. In this study carried out in such an important period of time, the topics including pulse production, consumption, trade, prices, marketing and policies are investigated in detail and future projections are made for Turkey and World pulse sectors. Past and present conditions and competitiveness of Turkey in pulse trade are examined by Constant Market Share and Revealed Comparative Advantage analyses.