The Endurance of Türkiye's Farmers

Farming is a difficult craft, yet it remains one of the most vital and dignified callings in human history. Agriculture is more than an occupation; it is a cycle dictated by the seasons, an endless chain of interdependent activities driven by humanity’s most fundamental need. Unlike other professions, a farmer’s life is not bound by fixed hours or predetermined schedules. There is no true season of idleness; even in the quiet of winter, when fields lie fallow, planning for the coming season is already underway. Each task, whether sowing, irrigating, or harvesting, seamlessly flows into the next, forming a rhythm as perpetual as life itself.

What distinguishes agriculture is its remarkable ability to create surplus value. From a single wheat seed, fifty or more seeds may spring forth, multiplying themselves with every cycle. This unique productive capacity has ensured that agriculture has always been the foundation of civilization. Cities, trade, and cultures could only flourish once fields produced more than were immediately consumed. Ancient philosophers were keenly aware of this truth. Aristotle, for instance, deemed agriculture the only “real” sector of the economy, arguing that all other professions merely circulated the surplus generated by those who tilled the soil.

In Türkiye, farming is not only an economic necessity but also a cultural and spiritual inheritance. Deeply rooted in the belief that the first human, Prophet Adam, was a farmer, the act of cultivating the land carries profound meaning. Farmers are called by many names, çiftçi, rençber, toprak işçisi, yet behind each title lies a shared identity: resilience, humility, and an intimate connection to the earth. In the furrows of Anatolian soil, one can still feel this timeless bond between humanity and the land that sustains it.

The Profile and Pressures of the Türkiye’s Farmer

According to the Türkiye’s Statistical Institute (TÜİK), there were nearly 2.7 million agricultural holdings in Türkiye in 2021, the vast majority of which are small-scale, family-operated farms (TÜİK, 2022). These farmers remain at the frontline of vulnerability, directly exposed to the growing impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, irregular precipitation, and more frequent extreme weather events have already begun to threaten agricultural yields, food security, and rural livelihoods.

Despite its indispensable role, Türkiye’s agriculture is under profound structural and economic strain. The sector contributes around 6.2% to national GDP and continues to be a major source of rural employment (TÜİK, 2023). Yet rather than being rewarded fairly for their labor, farmers are often pressured into a paradigm that emphasizes higher production rather than higher income. This imbalance is aggravated by surging input costs—fertilizer, pesticides, feed, energy, and fuel, which have risen sharply in recent years. At the same time, the gap between producer and consumer prices has widened. Reports from the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Development (TEPGE, 2023) point to a consistent squeeze on farmer margins, leaving many trapped in cycles of low profitability and rising indebtedness.

This paradox echoes the well-known parable of the fisherman: when urged to catch more fish, expand operations, and eventually retire in comfort, he responds, “But isn’t that exactly what I am already doing?” The story’s wisdom resonates in rural Türkiye today. The central dilemma is not whether farmers can produce more, they have repeatedly proven they can, but whether prevailing policies and market structures truly serve their welfare. Unless the system shifts toward improving farmer resilience and equitable returns, productivity gains may only deepen existing risks rather than secure rural prosperity.

The Endless Seasons of the Türkiye’s Farmer

Summer marks the height of agricultural intensity in Türkiye, a season that demands vigilance, strength, and precision. Fields and orchards brim with life as farmers tend to crop that sustain households and feed global markets. Türkiye stands as a world leader in hazelnut, apricot, and fig production, while also ranking among the top producers of wheat, tomatoes, peppers, and cherries (FAO, 2022). Each crop requires meticulous care, irrigation, pest management, and timely harvesting, to ensure not just quantity, but quality. Yet, the ultimate worth of this tireless effort rests not solely in the soil, but in the uncertainty of fluctuating markets. When prices are favorable, farmers reap the full fruits of their labor, harvesting with precision and care. But when prices collapse, some crops are abandoned to rot in the fields, as the cost of harvest outweighs the return. It is in these moments that gleaning becomes a symbol of resilience and necessity, with farmers, neighbors, or the needy returning to gather what remains, hazelnuts fallen beneath trees, overlooked potatoes, or stray wheat stalks.

Winter, by contrast, is mistakenly imagined as a time of rest. For the farmer, it is a season of preparation, not repose. Fields must be tilled and enriched, orchards pruned with precision to secure future yields, and, in warmer regions, second crops cultivated to maximize scarce resources. Even when snow or heavy rain halt outdoor activity, the farmer’s mind is restless, preoccupied with debts, seed choices, weather forecasts, and the unpredictable prospects of the coming year. A Türkiye’s proverb captures this ceaseless burden: “When you cut open a farmer’s belly, you will find forty thoughts about the next year.” Indeed, farming in Türkiye is a perpetual vocation, requiring not only unyielding arms but also tireless hearts.

The Path Forward: Policy Recommendations for a Sustainable Future

For Türkiye’s agriculture to remain both resilient and rewarding, the policies guiding it must undergo a decisive transformation. The future cannot be secured by simply pushing for higher yields; instead, the focus must shift toward farmer welfare and sustainability. Income-oriented policies are a critical first step. Transitioning from generic production subsidies to targeted direct income support would insulate farmers from volatile market swings and rising input prices, ensuring a dignified livelihood even in unstable conditions.

Equally urgent is the need to reduce input costs. Energy, fertilizer, feed, and pesticide expenses have become overwhelming burdens, eroding farm profitability. Tax reductions on these essentials, coupled with incentives for domestic production of agricultural products, would significantly ease the financial strain. Beyond financial relief, empowering farmers through strengthened cooperatives offers a pathway to reclaiming bargaining power from intermediaries. Strong, well-supported cooperatives can streamline market access, stabilize prices, and distribute risk more equitably (İzmir Commodity Exchange, 2023).

Climate-smart agriculture must also become central to national strategy. Encouraging the adoption of drought-resistant seeds, rainwater harvesting, and efficient drip irrigation would not only protect yields but also align Türkiye’s agriculture with global sustainability goals. At the same time, the demographic reality of an aging farmer population requires urgent attention. Comprehensive packages that include financial incentives, training programs, and access to modern technologies can make farming an attractive and viable profession for young people, ensuring continuity across generations.

Ultimately, the resilience of Türkiye’s agriculture lies not only in the soil or the seasons, but in the unwavering spirit of its farmers, resilient, patient, and deeply bound to the land. Sound policy must honor that spirit by creating a future where farming yields not just sustenance, but prosperity and dignity.

Conclusion

The story of the Türkiye’s farmer is one of endurance, dignity, and perpetual motion. Across the shifting seasons, farmers embody a rhythm as old as civilization itself, sowing in faith, laboring with resilience, and harvesting with hope, even under the shadow of uncertainty. Yet, despite their indispensable role in sustaining both the nation and the global food system, farmers remain burdened by rising input costs, volatile markets, and the deepening threats of climate change. Their labor creates value far beyond their fields, yet too often they are denied fair returns for the wealth they generate.

What emerges from this portrait is both a warning and a promise. Without systemic reform, the pressures that weigh on Türkiye’s farmers risk undermining not only rural livelihoods but also food security and national stability. But with thoughtful, income-oriented policies, strengthened cooperatives, and a genuine embrace of climate-smart practices, agriculture can evolve into a sector that nurtures both people and the planet.

The Türkiye’s farmer has always been more than a producer; they are guardians of heritage, soil, and sustenance. To honor their role is to ensure that agriculture continues to be not just a cycle of survival, but a foundation of prosperity and dignity for generations to come.

References: TÜİK; TEPGE; FAO; İzmir Commodity Exchange

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Agricultural Economics, Selcuk University, Konya-Türkiye and can be reached at mdirek@selcuk.edu.tr

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