Türkiye gains significant ground in agriculture in 100 years

By Zeynep Duyar

Türkiye, among the world's important countries in terms of agricultural output, has guaranteed the security of supply throughout the 100-year history of the republic with initiatives such as adapting technology to the sector, expanding support for farmers, accelerating policy efforts to increase migration from urban to rural areas and encouraging domestic production.

While agriculture has become strategic for various reasons, comprehensive studies ranging from technological developments in agriculture to support have been carried out since the establishment of the republic.

According to the 1927 census, Türkiye, with a population of approximately 13.6 million, faced problems such as decreased production, loss of labor force and famine as a result of wars in the early years of the republic.

Between 1923 and 1938, 3.7 million decares of land were distributed in Türkiye; while the import of agricultural products was 27% in 1923, this rate reduced to 18% in 1928 with the measures.

Within the scope of land consolidation, work started in 1961 and has continued until today. Within this framework, 759,365 decares of land were brought into production in 2022, and 500,000 decares of land were targeted to be consolidated for 2023.

Thus, a total of seven million decares of land has been consolidated since 1961.

Since the history of the republic, a process evolving from primitive tools to artificial intelligence has been followed with the effect of efforts to increase agricultural productivity.

While revolutionary practices were implemented on the one hand, technology was integrated into agriculture on the other.

The conscious use of agricultural areas, efficient and effective irrigation and the adaptation of technological developments to agriculture were also effective in preventing yield losses.

Artificial intelligence algorithms have started to be utilized in the development of data-based tools that facilitate decision-making in agriculture.

Thanks to new technologies, input use can be optimized according to changing land conditions, while more and better quality products are obtained from unit areas.

- Among top-10 agricultural economies

While Türkiye has been expanding its economic and commercial opportunities with both legislation and incentives of the public sector, especially in the period 2002-2022, the incentives and grants of $70 billion that the public sector has put into effect to support the agricultural sector have created a total economic production value of $1 trillion in the same period.

Thus, Turkish agriculture has become one of the 10 largest agricultural economies in the world, especially with the transformation it has undergone in the last 20 years, and considering the potential it has, it is predicted that the agricultural sector in the country can be further strengthened.

The country's agricultural production, which was worth $24.48 billion in 2002, broke a record by exceeding $56 billion in 2022.

This figure is projected to reach $113 billion in the 2030s and $273 billion in the 2050s.

While the share of the agricultural sector in GDP was at 6.5% in 2022, Türkiye has become the 9th country in the world in this field; exports of agricultural products broke an all-time record with $34.2 billion as of 2022.

Türkiye, which has achieved a 20.8-fold increase in agricultural output in the last 20 years with the support given to farmers, has ranked in the top 10 in the world and at the top in Europe in this field.

Agricultural support provided by the public sector increased from 1.9 billion liras ($1.1 billion) in 2002 to 63.4 billion liras ($2.2 billion) by 2023, and a target of 91.55 billion liras ($3.25 billion) was set for 2024.

- Record in field crops

With the effect of all these developments, there was an increase of 14.6% in field crops and 7.7% in fruits.

Last year, 8.5 million tons of corn, 2.75 million tons of cotton and 2.55 million tons of sunflower were produced, breaking the record in the history of the republic.

While about 1.1 million tons of hazelnuts are produced annually in the world, 64% of this production, 28% of quince production and 25% of cherry production are made by Türkiye.

While the world fig production reaches 1.35 million tons, Türkiye ranks first in this product with a 24% share.

The country also ranks first in apricot production, accounting for 22% of the world's apricot production.

The Turkish Grain Board purchased over 11 million tons of grain in the 2023 procurement period, reaching the highest purchase amount in the 85-year history of the institution.

- Seed sector

In the 100-year history of the Republic of Türkiye, important steps have been taken in the seed sector.

The seed sector, which continues to grow and develop in the country, has also achieved integration with international systems.

In this context, the number of seed companies, which was around 120 in 2002, has increased to 1,093 as of today.

Türkiye has also significantly increased its seed production in the last 20 years. Last year, 1.36 million tons of seeds were produced.

In the 2002-2022 period, seed production increased from 145,000 tons to 1.36 million tons.

The largest increase was seen in wheat and potato seed production.

During this period, Türkiye's exports of certified seeds increased from $17.3 million to $232.6 million.

Seed R&D studies also accelerated significantly in this period with the introduction of modern biotechnological methods.

With the studies, 1,027 domestic and national seed varieties were developed.

As for ancestral seeds, approximately 120,000 seed samples are preserved in two seed gene banks.

The seeds in these banks are used by many researchers.

In recent years, organic farming activities have gained importance.

Türkiye ranks 22nd in the world in terms of organic agriculture area, 26th in terms of the number of producers and 4th in Europe.

The country is also the 5th country that exports the most organic products to Europe.

- Giant projects in the field of water

In the last two decades, 10,136 facilities were put into service; during this period, the number of dams and ponds increased from 508 to 1,742, and the amount of water stored increased from 133 billion cubic meters to 183 billion cubic meters.

The rate of pressurized pipe irrigation systems was increased from 6% to 33%. This means that 84 thousand kilometers of irrigation pipes and lines, which are long enough to circle the earth two times, were laid underground.

- Livestock sector

In the livestock side, another important area in the Turkish agricultural sector, the number of cattle increased from 5.2 million in 1929 to 10.2 million in 1938 and to 16.6 million in 1979.

In the 2002-2022 period, the number of cattle increased from 9.9 million to 17 million and reached 16.7 million by the end of June 2023.
The number of ovine increased from 2.3 million in 1929 to 39.4 million in 1938 and 64.8 million in 1979.

In the last 20 years, the number of goats increased from 6.8 million to 11.6 million and the number of sheep from 25.2 million to 44.7 million. Thus, the country's ovine population exceeded 56 million as of 2022, and this number will be 53.3 million as of June 2023.

Türkiye ranked first among European countries in aquaculture production.
Aquaculture production reached 515,000 tons, and total aquaculture production reached 850,000 tons, breaking the record in the history of the republic.

The amount of honey produced in the beekeeping sector increased from 55,000 tons in 1991 to 118.3,000 tons in 2022.

Within the scope of efforts to develop beekeeping and increase honey production, a "Honey Map" was created. In the country, which has 27 registered honey varieties with geographical indications, 20 honey types are waiting to be registered.

*Writing by Gokhan Ergocun from Istanbul