Türkiye ranks first in Europe in agricultural income

Türkiye ranked first in Europe and was among the top 10 countries in the world last year in terms of agricultural income generated, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli has said.

Based on data from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Bank, Türkiye's agricultural income reached $68.5 billion in 2023, a 16 percent increase from the previous year.

The Turkish Statistics Institute (TUIK) reported that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors contributed 6.2 percent to Türkiye’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, slightly down from the 6.5 percent in the previous year.

In the first quarter of 2024, agriculture accounted for 2.3 percent of GDP, a decline from 5.2 percent in the last quarter of 2023.

The agricultural sector's value was 206 billion Turkish Liras in the January-March period.

Despite a 0.2 percent contraction in the agricultural sector last year, the Turkish economy grew by 4.5 percent overall.

However, in the first quarter of 2024, the agricultural sector saw a 4.6 percent growth compared to the same period in 2023, up from 0.5 percent in the previous quarter, while the overall Turkish economy grew by 5.7 percent annually in January-March 2023.

State support for farmers

The Turkish government has been proactive in providing support and incentives to farmers to boost agricultural production.

Financial aid, subsidies for seeds and fertilisers, and training programmes in modern farming techniques have made agriculture more viable and attractive.

As a result, agricultural production has continued to increase. Turkish farmers have expanded operations, invested in better quality inputs, and adopted practices that enhance yield and efficiency, meeting food demands and contributing to economic growth.

Surplus produce has opened up export opportunities, generating additional revenue.

Technology has also played a crucial role. Innovations like precision farming, drone surveillance, and advanced irrigation systems have optimised resources and reduced waste.

These technologies enable informed decisions, improving productivity and sustainability.