THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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New grain varieties come into play in the fight against global climate change…
Efforts are made to contribute to reducing the risks arising from global climate change by developing new grain varieties.
While global climate change poses a threat to the world, solutions are sought to reduce the risks through new methods. A new grain variety to be developed will now be tackled with regard to climate change.
TESTING NEW GRAIN TYPES AGAINST RISKS…
With the new grain varieties developed, it is tried to contribute to reducing the risks arising from global climate change.
The General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) improves grain varieties that will minimize yield losses by adapting to global climate change.
RISKS CAUSED BY GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BE REDUCED WITH IMPROVED GRAIN TYPES…
TAGEM General Directo Dr. Nevzat Birişik, who came to Konya province to attend a programme, said that the threat of drought, which has existed throughout history, may be felt much more in the near future.
DROUGHT, EXTREME RAIN AND EXTREME COLD CREATE THREATS…
Stating that climate change manifests itself not only as drought but also as extreme precipitation or extreme cold, Dr. Birisik expressed that it can be handled by adapting agricultural production strategies to changing conditions.
DROUGHT-RESISTANT PLANTS SHOULD BE GROWN…
Drawing attention to the fact that drought can be overcome not only by irrigating the field more, but also by drought-resistant plants, Dr. Birişik said, “Agricultural plants have come to the present day by experiencing all conditions for hundreds of thousands of years. Therefore, our main strategy in combating drought is to extract this information in the genes, consciousness and memory of the plants, It will be to develop varieties that are resistant to harsh conditions.”
WORKS CONTINUE ON COLD RESISTANT HAZELNUT, APRICOT AND APPLE…
Emphasizing that they have developed varieties that can make the farmer smile under all conditions, Dr. Birişik noted, “We have 26 drought-resistant wheat, 12 barley, 8 triticale and 2 oat varieties. We are also working on cold-resistant hazelnut, apricot and apple varieties.
BOTH DROUGHT AND HIGH RAIN RESISTANT SEED…
“For example, we have a wheat variety called ‘Taner’. It is a very strong variety with registered drought resistance. When a farmer plants his field, he worries because he doesn’t know if next year might be dry. We have bred this variety to provide high yields under irrigated conditions. So you are planting wheat, even if there is no water, its yield makes you happy, if it rains, its yield makes you happy twice,” Dr. Birişik added.
THE DIRECT CONTRIBUTION OF TAGEM TO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY IS 4.7 BILLION TL…
Touching on the added value created by the work they carry out, Dr. Birişik concluded, “The direct contribution of TAGEM to the Turkish national economy is 4 billion 700 million liras. When the wheat planted in the field becomes flour, bread, cake, milk from animals, yoghurt, cheese, silk and clothes. The indirect economy it creates is 42 billion liras. Turkey is a self-sufficient country.”
