Minister Yumaklı Announces New Strategies in Agriculture and Food

November 6, 2026 · AA Yeşil Hat

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that uncompromising inspections for food security will continue, and made comprehensive assessments regarding agricultural production planning, pesticide use, export logistics, and firefighting technologies.

Uncompromising Inspection Process for Food Security

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated at a meeting with press members in Istanbul that food safety is a fundamental red line. Emphasizing that field inspections are ongoing without interruption, Minister Yumaklı said that businesses engaging in imitation and adulteration are instantly disclosed to the public after facing penalties. Underscoring the uncompromising approach in the process, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statements:

'Food safety has always been our red line. There is absolutely no compromise on this matter. It is unacceptable for anyone to sell a product differently from what they have stated. No one has the right to do such a thing. This is misunderstood: 'Why do you disclose them? Why don't you just punish them?' We do what is necessary, then we disclose them, we impose the penalty, we withdraw their product. Whatever the crime corresponds to the penalty. And then we disclose them instantly. That is the biggest penalty, actually. We are as determined as we were on the day we started. I don't care at all who is who. It is not easy to build a brand and maintain a market presence. You invest labor and capital, but imitation and adulteration as a result are not the consumer's problem at all. Everyone must produce and present the product they have produced to people as they have promised. There is no room for discussion on this.'

European Union Comparison in Pesticide Use

Referring to a meeting with Christophe Hansen, the European Union Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Minister Yumaklı shared concrete indicators that refute international perceptions regarding the use of chemical pesticides in Turkey. Stating that the decline in RASFF notifications has reached 74% in the last three years, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said the following on the subject:

'Agricultural pesticide residue also came up there. Our decrease in RASFF notifications in the last three years is 74%. We are conducting biological and biotechnological control. We will share our practices in this regard with them. They had the perception that pesticides are used very intensively in Turkey. However, the rate of pesticide use per hectare in the EU is 3.2 kilograms, while it is 2.3 kilograms in Turkey.'

Biological Control and Fight Against Pests

Stating that climate change is transforming the natural balances in agricultural areas and increasing pest populations, Minister Yumaklı explained that they are developing nature-centered models that do not solely focus on chemical prescriptions. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı spoke about the counter-insect study conducted against the gall wasp, which has caused significant damage to chestnut trees in the Black Sea Region:

'In the Black Sea Region, a pest called the gall wasp has appeared on chestnut trees. It has ruined all the chestnut trees. But there is a counter-insect for it that does not harm the forests, and our colleagues have also done their work. When we visited those regions, we saw that results were achieved and everyone was satisfied. We must be able to apply not only by applying agricultural pesticides but also by using nature's own methods of struggle.'

Agricultural Production Planning and Planting Rules

Yumaklı stated that they initiated a structural transformation to guarantee agricultural supply security with the production planning mechanism since 2023, pointing to the preservation of arable lands. Reminding that the establishment of fruit orchards on first-class fertile agricultural lands with a slope of less than 6% has been prohibited in line with the decisions made in 2023, Minister Yumaklı noted that planning has been extended to all patterns, starting with strategic products. Minister Yumaklı stated that they have passed a legislative regulation through Parliament against illegal construction that destroys agricultural areas under the guise of hobby gardens and that they conduct uncompromising inspections.

Logistics Obstacles and Agricultural Diplomacy

Yumaklı emphasized that the yield success achieved by producers must be rapidly delivered to the market, drawing attention to transportation costs and disruptions in fruit exports due to navigation safety reasons on the Black Sea route. He stated that they are working in coordination with the Ministry of Trade to remove obstacles for exporters and that they are supporting the preparations for the wholesale market law, with Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı making the following assessment:

'We are striving to extend this to all products. Unfortunately, navigation problems in the Black Sea regarding fruit exports are currently one of our biggest issues. Exporters are facing difficulties due to the inability to export products and the lack of navigation safety. We are working with our Ministry of Trade on how we can facilitate their business. That will also alleviate the problem by coming into play. This year, we have obtained very good harvest data for all products. However, when you cannot sell your product, it has many backward complications. For this reason, I am holding one-on-one meetings with all countries. We are working individually for each country. We are conducting an intensive agricultural diplomacy process.'

Record Rainfall Data in the Water Year

Sharing the water year statistics monitored by the Ministry, Minister Yumaklı stated that the strongest rainfall period in the last 66 years has been reached and that the established Flood Prevention System provides warnings for risky flows 72 hours in advance. Evaluating the effects of the climate crisis and the water year table, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı provided the following information:

'In 2025, we were suffering from drought. This is the most significant effect of climate change. It will continue. From October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026, the average rainfall across Turkey was 741.6 millimeters. The long-term average for this amount is 573.4 millimeters. This is 30% above that. Compared to last year, it increased by 76%. Looking at it the other way, last year there was 76% less rainfall.'

Herd Quality and Disease-Free Status in Livestock

Emphasizing that they are focusing on productivity, breeding, and herd renewal rather than total assets within the scope of the Livestock Roadmap, Yumaklı stated that the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak that emerged in 2025 was brought under control within four months. Minister Yumaklı stated that they are conducting disease-free farm screenings across the country and added that the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) continues its purchases of hazelnuts at the announced price, adhering to the criteria for market hazelnut prices. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı stated that violations of rules are absolutely not permitted and made the following statements:

'We overcame that severe outbreak within four months. This was due to our capabilities. We are striving to prevent new ones. We have a serious effort regarding animal diseases. We have initiated a screening for disease-free farms throughout Turkey. This means farms that have taken all necessary precautions regarding diseases and implemented all the rules. We say that we have eased the conditions for being disease-free, but we will have no tolerance here. But you must also comply with its rules; we have canceled the disease-free status of all those who did not comply. Because I am giving four times more support for it. So that there is disease-free status and no animal diseases.'

Artificial Intelligence Integration in Fire Management

Minister Yumaklı explained that artificial intelligence tools such as the Decision Support System have been implemented in combating forest fires, allowing risks to be detected seven days in advance, and stated that 3% of fires are intentionally set. Minister Yumaklı stated that they are establishing new carbon sinks in line with the 2053 net-zero emissions goal and described the penalties applied to intentional fires with the following words:

'We do not detect these; law enforcement agencies detect them. We derive this from their reports. In Kahramanmaraş, fireworks were set off. Why would you set off fireworks in a forest? This is not an accident; it is intentional. The penalties for these are truly severe. We also seek recourse from those who started the fire for the financial amount spent in responding to that forest fire. Our legal department follows it to the end to ensure they are penalized.'

Fire Intervention with Defense Industry Cooperation

Yumaklı touched upon the contribution of Baykar-produced Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles in the fire surveillance and early detection phase, announcing that they are working with the defense industry to develop unmanned platforms capable of dropping water on flames. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı summarized the process, stating that intervention systems compatible with challenging geographical conditions do not yet have precedents worldwide:

'We have a project with our defense industry regarding the use of UAVs in forest fires. Currently, we use them for detection, but what I mean is for direct intervention. This does not exist in the world yet. We see some applications of Chinese origin, but forest fires occur in difficult terrains. Those applications are in flatter and more easily accessible areas. Can we create unmanned vehicles that can drop water as effectively as our aircraft? We have started this project with our defense industry. My prediction is that with their experience, it will not take too long, and we will create something from which Turkey can also generate economic returns. In the meantime, I would like to thank Baykar for the UAVs we currently use for detection. We also use this technology with Bayraktar TB2s. They continue to support us on the technical side.'

Türkçe