Türkiye's Agricultural Sector: Challenges & Opportunities

Agriculture remains one of humanity’s most vital sectors, yet it faces unprecedented challenges due to population growth, climate change, and shifting dietary demands. The global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, requiring a 70% increase in food production (FAO, 2022). Meanwhile, agricultural land shrinking 12 million hectares are lost annually to degradation (UNCCD, 2023). These pressures necessitate alternative agricultural approaches that enhance productivity, sustainability, and market efficiency.

In Türkiye, a country with a rich agricultural heritage and significant agro-ecological diversity, these global challenges intersect with local vulnerabilities. Although agriculture employs around 17% of the workforce and contributes approximately 6.5% to GDP, it remains heavily exposed to climate variability, water scarcity, and outdated practices in some regions. Droughts and erratic rainfall in the Anatolian plateau have increasingly disrupted crop yields, while urban sprawl threatens fertile coastal and valley farmlands. Furthermore, rising input costs, especially fertilizers and energy, have squeezed profit margins for smallholder farmers.

Despite its fundamental importance, agriculture in Türkiye often struggles to translate high yields into economic gains. Post-harvest losses in perishable products like fruits and vegetables remain significant, due to limited cold storage infrastructure and inefficiencies in supply chains. Regional disparities in farm productivity also persist, reflecting uneven access to extension services and modern technologies.

To remain competitive and food secure, Türkiye must prioritize systemic reforms across the agricultural value chain. This includes investing in smart irrigation, digitized logistics, and climate-resilient crops. Equally important is strengthening farmer cooperatives, export competitiveness, and rural finance mechanisms. With strategic innovation and inclusive policy frameworks, Türkiye can position its agriculture sector not just as a source of food, but as a driver of rural prosperity and sustainable economic growth in the face of 21st-century pressures.

The Productivity Paradox in Türkiye: High Output, Low Profitability

Türkiye’s agricultural sector showcases nature’s extraordinary productivity, where even a single corn plant can yield hundreds of kernels. Despite this biological abundance, many Türkiye’s farmers are caught in a cycle of low profitability, primarily driven by market inefficiencies, perishability of goods, and lack of support systems. For perishable commodities like strawberries, milk, and leafy greens, the window between harvest and spoilage is incredibly narrow—often just a few hours. Without a functioning cold chain infrastructure, an estimated 20–30% of fruits and vegetables are lost before ever reaching consumers. In Türkiye, this is particularly evident in cherry farming: studies indicate that unrefrigerated cherries lose half their market value within just six hours (TÜİK, 2023).

The Türkiye’s proverb, “Can you sell what you grow?” reflects a core issue: production is not the bottleneck, marketing and selling are. An illustrative case involved a large-scale onion farmer who abandoned his crop due to low prices. A neighboring farmer attempted to salvage it but lacked proper storage; rain destroyed the crop, leading to total loss. Ironically, onion prices surged just weeks later, but the farmer, disillusioned by repeated market shocks, chose to exit onion production entirely. This volatility discourages investment and long-term planning across farming communities.

Türkiye’s agro-climatic diversity holds untapped potential for alternative crops such as quinoa, chia, and organic herbs. However, the promise of diversification is hindered by uncertain market demand, inadequate local processing facilities, and cumbersome export procedures. These barriers discourage farmers from shifting to higher-value, climate-resilient crops. Without policy reforms that stabilize prices, strengthen market access, and invest in agri-infrastructure, Türkiye risks squandering its natural advantages. Bridging the gap between high output and economic sustainability is essential to empower its rural economy and ensure agricultural resilience in the decades to come.

Revitalizing Türkiye’s Agriculture through Trade, Processing, and Innovation

In Türkiye, agricultural trade and food processing play an increasingly important role in ensuring food security and economic viability. While local production forms the backbone of food supply, it cannot always meet domestic demand or align with global market opportunities. Agricultural trade helps bridge these gaps, as seen in the European Union, which imports nearly half of its fresh produce from Africa and South America (Eurostat, 2023). Likewise, food processing significantly extends the utility and shelf life of perishable crops; for example, surplus tomatoes can be turned into paste, preserving value for months or even years (IFT, 2023).

However, Türkiye’s dependence on agricultural trade exposes farmers to global market volatility. Wheat, a staple crop in the country, experienced a 60% price surge after the Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted supply chains (IMF, 2023). Export restrictions and trade barriers have similarly impacted the availability and affordability of inputs like fertilizers and seeds (WTO, 2023), directly affecting Türkiye’s growers.

To build resilience, Türkiye must invest in cold chain infrastructure and modern storage systems. India’s example, where solar-powered cold storage reduced post-harvest tomato losses by 25% (ICAR, 2023), offers a replicable model. Integrating digital solutions like blockchain can also enable traceability and faster, more transparent payments, benefiting smallholders and cooperatives alike (WEF, 2023).

Diversification into high-value crops like avocado, medicinal herbs, and nuts could tap into premium export markets. Countries like Kenya have seen a 200% rise in avocado exports in five years by aligning with EU standards (World Bank, 2023). Moreover, innovations like vertical farming offer significant yield gains with minimal land use, an important consideration for urban and peri-urban Türkiye’s agriculture.

Conclusion

Türkiye’s agricultural sector stands at a pivotal juncture where traditional practices, structural inefficiencies, and modern pressures converge. While the country possesses immense agro-ecological potential and biological productivity, the disconnect between high yields and low profitability continues to stifle progress. From post-harvest losses and weak market linkages to price volatility and underdeveloped infrastructure, the challenges facing Türkiye’s farmers are systemic and multifaceted. Yet within these challenges lie tremendous opportunities. By embracing alternative agriculture, diversifying crops, improving value chains, modernizing storage and logistics, and leveraging digital innovations, Türkiye can not only safeguard food security but also enhance rural incomes and economic resilience.

Strategic policy reforms are essential. Cold chain investments, smart subsidies, cooperative development, and export facilitation must become national priorities. Equally, empowering farmers through access to finance, training, and market intelligence will be key to unlocking innovation and climate resilience. As global food systems become more complex and competitive, Türkiye’s ability to adapt, innovate, and lead in sustainable agriculture will determine its future. With bold vision and inclusive action, the country can transform its agriculture sector from a story of paradox into one of prosperity, turning challenges into catalysts for lasting change and sustainable growth.

References: FAO; World Bank; IMF; WEF; EC; UNCCD; TÜİK; Eurostat; IFT; WTO; ICAR

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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