Ministry Announces Technology and Production Targets in Agriculture

October 5, 2026 · Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı emphasized that food supply security is a national security issue, sharing steps for technological transformation and production planning in agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı visited the TEKNOFEST Southeast event held in Şanlıurfa, inspecting agricultural technology stands. Making evaluations within the scope of the event, Minister Yumaklı stated that the engineering capabilities achieved in the defense industry will also be transferred to agricultural technologies. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statements on the subject:

According to data shared by the Ministry, Turkey's population, which was 68 million in the 2000s, has now reached 86 million, and the world population has risen from 6 billion to 8 billion. Yumaklı stated that with the population increase, it has become imperative to conduct agricultural production with a focus on quality, and that the yield per animal and per land must be increased. Yumaklı noted that they have activated a production planning mechanism to ensure supply-demand balance, and that how production is carried out has now become the primary focus, rather than just what is produced.

Minister Yumaklı inspected field tracking modules with satellite imagery and feed preparation automation systems within the scope of the Agriculture Technologies Cluster (TÜME) Foundation. It was pointed out that these developed systems provide time and input cost savings for producers. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that producers are quickly adapting to the planning system, saying:

According to demographic data announced by the Ministry, the average age of farmers in Turkey has been reported as 57. While young farmers constitute only 13% of the 2 million 380 thousand producers registered in the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS), the middle-aged group constitutes 58%, and the remaining portion consists of older producers. Minister Yumaklı stated that the inclusion of young people and women entrepreneurs in the sector is vital for the sustainability of agricultural production and that support for these groups will continue.

At the panel during the event, Minister Yumaklı also touched upon technological advancements in the seed industry, stating that technology is not just about mechanical devices, and seed breeding is a critical technological step. According to Ministry data, Turkey produces 96% of its required seeds domestically and ranks among the top 10 countries globally in this field. Yumaklı stated that the presence of Turkish seed companies in world markets is increasing day by day and their competitive power is strengthening.

It was announced that emphasis is being placed on modern irrigation investments to ensure productivity and yield stability in plant production. According to Ministry data, irrigation has been provided to 7.3 million hectares of agricultural land across Turkey to date. Minister Yumaklı stated that investments aimed at expanding irrigation infrastructure and popularizing modern water-saving irrigation systems will continue uninterruptedly, and that efficient management of water resources is an indispensable condition for agricultural supply security.

Minister Yumaklı stated that organized agricultural zones, designed to strengthen agricultural industry integration, hold a significant place in the budget. According to official data, actual production activities have commenced in 16 out of the 61 planned organized agricultural zones across Turkey. Yumaklı added that the remaining zones will be commissioned gradually and that the goal is to increase competitiveness in the international agricultural market by supporting producers through ORKÖY loans and grant programs.

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