Ministry of Agriculture to Monitor Production with Digital Data Center
· Yeni Şafak
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is establishing a new data center to monitor all processes, from agricultural production planning to water management, in real-time, while accelerating land consolidation and mapping investments.
Digital Transformation and Data Center in Agriculture
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is establishing a comprehensive data center for agricultural production planning, registration processes, early warning mechanisms, and market control. With this new infrastructure, all inputs used in agricultural production will be recorded and closely monitored in real-time. According to the Ministry's statement, the software and hardware infrastructure of agricultural information systems will be completely renewed and designed with a holistic approach. The project's primary goals are to strengthen the food supply chain, enhance stock management efficiency, and ensure healthy price formation for agricultural products in the market.
Land Consolidation Targets Gain Momentum
Emphasis is being placed on land consolidation efforts due to the fragmented and dispersed land structure in the country, which increases production costs and limits the benefits derived from irrigation investments. According to Ministry data, the amount of land whose consolidation is completed is expected to reach 9.9 million hectares by the end of this year, and the area with completed registration is expected to reach 8.2 million hectares. As part of the planning integrated with irrigation investments, new land consolidation work will commence on 180,000 hectares in 2027. In the same year, registration processes for an additional 603,000 hectares of land are projected to be finalized.
Soil Surveys and Mapping Activities
Field surveys are continuously ongoing to precisely determine soil characteristics and base land use decisions on reliable data. According to information shared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, detailed soil surveys and mapping activities were completed in 755,000 hectares in 2024. An additional 2.4 million hectares are targeted for mapping by the end of the year. Within the vast 6.8 million-hectare project area where work is underway, 3.5 million hectares are planned for completion in 2027, and the remaining 3.3 million hectares in 2028.
Meters and Capacity Increase in Irrigation Networks
To ensure efficient water use in agriculture, dam and network infrastructures are being modernized, and a charging system based on consumption is being implemented. As of the end of last year, there were 1831 facilities with a storage volume of 183,819 hectometers, and this year, with the completion of 21 dams and 10 ponds, the capacity will increase to 184,085 hectometers. With the commissioning of 65,779 hectares this year, the total irrigated area will reach 7.34 million hectares, and 7.40 million hectares by 2027. An additional 100 facilities will be added to the 457 facilities equipped with meters by the end of 2025, and the use of treated wastewater in agriculture will continue.
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 9.9 million hectares | End of year | Area where consolidation is completed |
| 8.2 million hectares | End of year | Consolidated area for which registration is completed |
| 180 thousand hectares | 2027 | Area to be consolidated in 2027 |
| 603 thousand hectares | 2027 | Area for which registration procedures will be completed in 2027 |
| 755 thousand hectares | 2024 | Area for which detailed soil surveys are completed |
| 2.4 million hectares | End of year | Additional soil survey area targeted for completion by year-end |
| 6.8 million hectares | 2027-2028 | Project area under construction |
| 1831 units | End of last year | Total number of water storage facilities |
| 183819 cubic hectometers | End of last year | Current water storage volume |
| 21 units | This year | Number of dams to be completed this year |
| 10 units | This year | Number of ponds to be completed this year |
| 184085 cubic hectometers | End of this year | Estimated total water storage capacity |
| 65779 hectares | This year | Area to be opened for irrigation this year |
| 7.34 million hectares | This year | Total irrigation area |
| 7.4 million hectares | 2027 | Targeted total irrigation area |
| 457 units | End of 2025 | Number of irrigation facilities with meters installed |
| 100 units | This year | Number of facilities to have meters installed this year |