Historical Record of 140 Million Tons in Plant Production
· Google Haberler
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that Turkey will break all-time records by reaching 140 million tons in total plant production, aided by the best rainfall in the last 66 years.
Expectation of a Historic Production Record
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı shared agricultural production data with the public at a harvest ceremony held in Eflani district of Karabük. Stating that Turkey received the best rainfall in the last 66 years, the Ministry reported a fertile season following a dry period. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that with the completion of the harvest season, the total plant production in Turkey will reach 140 million tons. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, who stated that current data from the field confirm high yield expectations, made the following remarks regarding the expected outcome:
"God willing, we will close the harvest season with a production of 140 million tons. This is a record for all time."
Wheat and Barley Harvest Nearing Completion
Work on wheat and barley fields across the country has largely concluded. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, it was announced that 93% of the barley and wheat harvest is complete. Touching upon the progress in the harvest process, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated:
"Considering last year's drought, it has truly been an extremely fertile and productive season for our country's agriculture. Of course, harvesting is still ongoing in different regions of our country, but if I have to give a percentage, the barley and wheat harvest is approximately 93% complete."
Record Purchases by TMO
The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) fulfilled its commitment at the beginning of the harvest that no producer's product would be left in the field. TMO, which established purchasing centers at 600 points nationwide at the start of the season, offered producers a fast payment schedule. Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced to the public that the Turkish Grain Board has purchased 11.5 million tons of product to date. Providing information on the purchasing process, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said:
"We will not leave a single gram of product unpurchased in the hands of any of our producers, any of our farmers, and we have achieved this. I am stating this as of today; the Turkish Grain Board has purchased 11.5 million tons of product."
Climate Change and Seed Studies
Reminding that Turkey is the gene center of wheat, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry focused on increasing productivity in strategic products. Activities to develop new seeds are continuing uninterruptedly to minimize the negative effects of climate change and environmental factors. The Ministry, conducting research on harvesting methods and modern cultivation techniques, aims to increase the yield per unit area. Minister İbrahim Yumaklı stated that the most fundamental strength in agricultural production is the dedicated farmers and expressed his gratitude to all producers who worked in the fields.
Serious Warning Against Stubble Fires
Stubble fires lit in the fields during the final days of the harvest season cause great damage to both the ecosystem and forest assets. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı drew attention to the need to avoid burning stubble in areas where agricultural fields are intertwined with forests. Pointing to the fire hazard, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı issued the following warning:
"When you burn stubble, you are burning everything living in that soil, everything you see or cannot see. It not only provides no benefit to your next year's planting activities, but it also leads to another disaster by ending the lives of the insects and bugs there, so to speak."
The Role of the Producer in Firefighting
Recalling the widespread fire disasters experienced in the past period around Karabük, Eflani, and Kastamonu, farmers were asked for maximum sensitivity. It was emphasized that fires starting in non-forest areas can quickly spread to forested areas due to wind. Minister İbrahim Yumaklı highlighted the importance of producers taking precautions with water tankers and reservoirs during harvest and thanked farmers who intervened immediately against potential sparks. The Ministry reiterated its call for the complete abandonment of the stubble-burning habit to protect agricultural sustainability.