Historical Record of 140 Million Tons in Agricultural Production
· AA Tarım & Ekonomi
Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı announced that total plant production will reach 140 million tons, breaking all-time records, following the most fertile rainfall season in the last 66 years.
All-Time Record in Agricultural Production
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made important statements at a wheat harvest program held in Esencik village of Eflani district in Karabük. Minister Yumaklı, who personally participated in the harvest with a combine harvester, noted that Turkey has experienced the best rainfall season in the last 66 years and that 93% of the barley and wheat harvest has been completed. Stating that they had a productive season, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı shared the expectation of a historic yield with the following words:
"God willing, we will close the harvest season with a production of 140 million tons. This will be an all-time record."
Seed Studies in Strategic Cereal Production
Reminding that Turkey is the homeland of wheat, Minister Yumaklı emphasized the strategic value of cereals on a global scale. He stated that the Ministry is developing new seed varieties resistant to the climate crisis and popularizing modern planting techniques. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı conveyed the ongoing efforts as follows:
"We, as the Ministry, continue our work on harvest and production methods, especially seed development, to protect ourselves from all the effects brought by climate change and various other factors. Our goal is to increase our yield and production. Our greatest strength in this regard is, of course, our producers. I sincerely thank all producers who have their hands and labor in the soil."
Record Purchases by TMO
The activities carried out by the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) to regulate the market and purchase produce from farmers at its value continue without slowing down. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı shared the following data regarding the institution's expanding purchase network:
"As the Turkish Grain Board, from the beginning of the harvest season, with both the prices we announced and the estimated production to come, we said, 'We will not leave a single gram of product unpurchased in the hands of any of our producers or farmers.' And we have achieved this. I am stating as of today, the Turkish Grain Board has purchased 11.5 million tons of product. When we started the season, we said we would establish 600 purchase points from which we would buy our producers' products and pay for their labor as quickly as possible. As of today, due to the need that has arisen, we have increased these purchase points to 769."
Statements Against Disinformation in Agricultural Production
Minister Yumaklı reacted to the speculations and misleading claims circulating about the agricultural sector, stating that the labor put forth by Turkish farmers in the field cannot be underestimated. Pointing to the fact that Turkey's agricultural production power is strengthening every day, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made the following statements:
"We have always said it, we have always done it. It will continue to be this way. I want to reiterate here that I do not accept the attempts to obscure the strength of this country in agricultural production, as in all other fields, with disinformation from those who provide not even a gram of benefit."
Stubble Burning Warning Triggering Forest Fires
Minister Yumaklı reminded that burning stubble in fields after harvest causes irreparable damage to the living ecosystem of the soil and to neighboring forests, and issued a stern warning to producers. Emphasizing the seriousness of the fire risk, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı continued his warning with the following words:
"Not only does this provide no benefit to your planting activities next year, but you are also causing another disaster by ending the lives of the insects and bugs there, so to speak. One aspect of the matter is this, and the other aspect is that in areas intertwined with forest lands, stubble burning inevitably spreads to forest areas. Last year, Karabük, Eflani, and a part of Kastamonu experienced the most severe fires in their history. That area was not a forest area, it was not stubble, it was for another reason, but there is no difference in terms of similarity. Therefore, I earnestly request our producers all over Turkey, please do not burn stubble."
Information Campaign for Direct Stubble Sowing
Minister Yumaklı thanked the producers who went to the fields with water tankers during the harvest process to prevent fires, and announced that field trainings have begun to completely end the habit of burning stubble. Stating that provincial and district organizations will meet with farmers, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı concluded his statement as follows:
"From today onwards, in areas where the harvest has ended, our colleagues from the provincial and district agriculture directorates will explain to our producers what direct stubble sowing is and its benefits. I wish you success and abundance. Hopefully, we will have a very fruitful year next year, just like this year. Our country, our nation, and our farmers will all win together."