SECTORS :: AGRICULTURE

With its favorable geographical conditions and climate, Turkey is considered to be one of the leading countries in the world in the field of agriculture and related industries. This impressive position is best attested by rising exports in almost every kind of agricultural products, placing the country amongst the world’s largest producers.

 

The restructuring efforts that began in the early 1980s, alongside a series of reforms such as privatizations and the reduction of trade barriers in the agriculture sector, resulted in a domestic market that is an integral part of the world economy today. Subsequently, agricultural exports, excluding processed food, increased to USD 5 billion in 2010, up from USD 1.7 billion in 2002.

 

As of 2010, the share of the agricultural sector in Turkey’s GDP is 8.4 percent, down from 10.1 percent in 2000, and the sector recruits around 25 percent of the total workforce in the country.

 

Around 40 percent of Turkey’s land area is arable and this ample potential offers a large range of products such as grains, pulses, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, poultry, milk and dairy products, fishery, honey and tobacco. Crop production, livestock and fishery/forestry account for 67 percent, 26 percent and 7 percent of the total agricultural production respectively.

 

Internationally, Turkey has a strong dominance in production and exportation of many agricultural products such as hazelnuts, dried apricots, sultanas and dried figs. In addition, Turkey’s food industry is much better developed than that of the neighboring countries. Given these factors, the country is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMEA) region, while its trade balance is significantly positive.

 

Turkey has a population of 74 million people and is growing with a rising income. This makes Turkey one of the largest markets in its region, and the changing consumer habits of the younger generation boost domestic consumption.

 

Turkey offers a fertile agricultural investment environment to the entrepreneurs on the back of the following:

 

Strong geographical location, e.g. favorable climate conditions and proximity to major markets

Competitive labor force which is particularly important for labor-intensive food producing activities

Availability of almost all raw materials for the industry

Continued government investments in the form of major irrigation projects, infrastructure improvements and consolidation of small-sized farm lands

Government support for agricultural investments

Increasing production efficiency due to progressive automation

 

Key figures about Turkish agribusiness:

 

Turkey is the world leader in the production of dried figs, hazelnuts, sultanas/raisins and dried apricots.

The total exports of agricultural products (including processed foods) reached USD 12 billion in 2010.

Turkey has the largest milk and dairy production in its region.

Turkey has an estimated total of 11,000 plant species, whereas the total number of species in Europe is 11,500.

The agricultural production in 2010 was USD 62 billion, up from USD 24 billion in 2002.

 

Turkey’s ambitious vision of 2023, the centennial celebration of the Republic, envisages grandiose targets for the agriculture sector in Turkey. These targets include:

 

USD 150 billion gross agricultural domestic product

USD 40 billion agricultural export

Becoming one of the top 5 countries in terms of agricultural production

8.5 million hectare irrigable area (from 5.4 million)

Ranking number 1 in fisheries as compared with the EU