Global food needs to rise 50% in 25 years

By Behcet Alkan

NEVSEHIR, Turkey (AA) - The world’s food need will rise 50 percent in 25 years and Turkey should plan to produce 50 percent more food, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said Monday.

"Turkey ranked the first in Europe and seventh in the world in agricultural production," Pakdemirli said at Hacı Bektas Veli University in Nevsehir province.

He said Turkey's agricultural supports rose by around 750 percent from 2002 to 2018.

In the same period, plant production reached 120 million tons from 98 million tons; the number of cattle rose to 17 million from 9.9 million and small cattle reached 45 million from 32 million, the minister underlined.

"Turkey is also the second country in Europe with its number of cattle after France," Pakdemirli said.

He warned Turkey can become an importer nation if it does not raise its production.