Yields of drought-resistant crops on decline: Experts

By Gulseli Kenarli

ISTANBUL (AA) — Climate change-induced droughts and irregular rainfall patterns are negatively impacting the yield, development, taste, and harvest periods of various crops, according to experts.

Rising temperatures and irregular precipitation are disrupting fruit and vegetable production.

Fruit trees, for example have been significantly affected by this year’s long winter, coupled with an unusually hot spring and summer, according to Ayzin Kuden, a senior member of an independent accreditation body for agricultural, forestry, and aquacultural engineering programs in Türkiye.

Kuden explained that these effects, while prevalent globally, were particularly pronounced in Türkiye's Mediterranean region. Their early onset results in premature fruit ripening, leading to inadequate flavor, she told Anadolu.

- ‘Yields decreased in drought-resistant crops’

She observed changes in harvest times and productivity. “Cherries, peaches, and apricots were harvested 10 to 15 days earlier this year.

“In fresh fruit production, we saw increased yields of peaches, plums, figs, oranges, tangerines, and grapefruits compared to last year,” said Kuden, who is currently the vice chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Association for Evaluation and Accreditation of Agricultural Faculties Education Programs in the Turkish capital Ankara.

“However, there was a decrease in the yields of cherries, sour cherries, pears, strawberries, pomegranates, grapes, apricots, and lemons. Overall, yield decreases ranged from 10 to 20%, while some crops, like almonds and pistachios, traditionally considered drought-resistant, also suffered declines.”

High temperatures have similarly impacted vegetables in Türkiye, including tomatoes, watermelons, and melons, resulting in early harvests and inadequate taste due to softening and deterioration.

Kuden predicted that a warm autumn could lead to flowering in peach trees in the Mediterranean region, further diminishing fruit quality. She warned, “The warm fall may cause trees to shed their leaves and enter dormancy later than usual, adversely affecting fruit quality. We are also witnessing the occurrence of ‘twinned’ fruits — fruits that are stuck together — most commonly in cherries … due to extreme heat.”

She cautioned that floods and droughts are expected to worsen due to global warming and suggested a shift towards crops that need less irrigation, such as olives, figs, pistachios, and carob. Kuden also emphasized the importance of using deep-rooted rootstocks, water-saving drip irrigation methods, and closed systems for water transport.

- ‘Annual rainfall has decreased’

Halim Orta, a faculty member at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University in northwestern Türkiye, described this year’s hot weather as a precursor to a potential peak drought by 2040. He explained that precipitation is now falling at inappropriate times, disrupting planting and harvest schedules.

“Planting periods vary by one to two months, and harvest periods can shift by 15 days to a month,” Orta said. “Currently, Türkiye averages 573 millimeters (over 22.5 inches) of annual rainfall, which ideally should occur in April and May, coinciding with the needs of summer and winter crops. This year, that rainfall occurred during harvest time in July and August, which is undesirable.”

Orta stressed that irregular temperature and precipitation patterns adversely affect agricultural production quality, storage, and processing. He noted, “October is the sowing season for winter cereals — barley, wheat, oats, and fodder crops. If this dry spell continues without expected rainfall, processing costs will rise significantly, as dry soil complicates tillage and machinery operation. If rainfall does not occur within 20 days post-sowing, seeds may fail to germinate, leading to low yields regardless of any intervention.”

*Writing by Efe Ozkan