Southeast Anatolia's Cotton Model to be Presented at COP31 Summit

November 5, 2026 · AA Tarım & Ekonomi

The Good Cotton Project implemented in Southeast Anatolia has achieved a 45% saving in irrigation while increasing yield by 20%. The region's sustainable production model will be introduced to the world at the COP31 summit hosted by Turkey.

Good Cotton Model Goes Global

Sustainable agriculture efforts in the Southeast Anatolia Region, which accounts for more than half of Turkey's total cotton supply, are being taken to the global stage. The Good Cotton Project, carried out under the coordination of the GAP Regional Development Administration, affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be introduced to the world at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) organization, hosted by Turkey. The implementation aims to bring the region's production processes to international standards and communicate environmentally friendly production methods to the global public.

Input Savings and Yield Increase Data

The project, implemented over the last 5 years, has succeeded in reducing input costs while increasing production quality in regional agriculture. According to project data announced by the GAP Regional Development Administration, approximately 30% savings in fertilizer use in fields have been achieved thanks to the modern cultivation principles applied. A critical gain has also been made in protecting water resources, with savings reaching 45% in irrigation. Despite a significant reduction in input quantities, a net yield increase of 20% was recorded in terms of harvest and product performance in the field.

Resource Efficiency and Field Support Efforts

Agricultural engineers, agricultural consultants, and field control personnel provide direct technical guidance to producers during the production process. Stating that strict international criteria are adopted in the field, GAP BKİ President Hasan Maral made the following evaluations:

"As the GAP Regional Development Administration, we have been implementing a umbrella program called integrated resource efficiency since 2017. Our aim is to increase the added value of agricultural products intensively produced in the region, while also reducing inputs. We have focused on 'good cotton' in the Southeast Anatolia Region, one of our country's most important cotton production centers. It has an international standard in the world. This standard also has strict criteria. We have successfully started to disseminate this standard in our region over the last 5-year period."

Expanding Production Area and Climate Vision

The project, which spans a wide geography, especially the plains of Şanlıurfa and Diyarbakır, targets agricultural resilience against the climate crisis. Drawing attention to the dimensions the project has reached and the COP31 goals, GAP BKİ President Hasan Maral concluded his remarks as follows:

"Within this framework, good cotton production has now begun on an area exceeding 500,000 decares in the Southeast Anatolia Region. More than 2,100 of our producers are currently producing good cotton in the region. This is a very important indicator. Of course, this stage also attracts the attention of the relevant authorities. As you know, Turkey will be the host of COP31 this year. Brand initiatives from our country will also be carried to COP31. In this direction, our good cotton applications have also become a focal point due to being a project that has made an impact. The success of the project and its results are evident. We are excited about these results being presented at the COP31 arena. Southeast Anatolian cotton, under good cotton standards, will be discussed intensively at COP31."

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