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Professor Dr. Yunus Kılıç, Chair of the 27th Term Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), regarding the decision to lease agricultural lands that are not cultivated for 2 consecutive years, said, “Our total amount of arable agricultural land in the country is around 23-24 million hectares. Our land size, which we think cannot be sown at the moment, is around 450 thousand hectares. We are talking about 3 times the agricultural land of a province the size of Kars. With this method, we will have the opportunity to lease out a land as much as the agricultural land of 3 provinces and add it to production.”
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has prepared a regulation for the seasonal leasing of agricultural lands that are owned by real or legal persons and have not been cultivated for 2 consecutive years, provided that the nature of the land is not changed and used in agricultural production. The regulation was published in the Official Gazette on 22 August and entered into force. Dr. Yunus Kılıç, Chair of the 27th Term Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Affairs Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, made an assessment on the issue. Stating that studies have been carried out on this issue for many years, Dr. Kılıç explained, “We have lands that are not used in agriculture for various reasons. A considerable amount of land cannot be used in agriculture due to migration, death, inheritance disputes, small and fragmented lands.”
“THERE IS NEVER A SITUATION OF LOOTING”
Dr. Kılıç reminded that the regulation has been subjected to some criticisms and added, “There are criticisms such as ‘the land of the citizens will be seized’ or ‘it will be looted for this or that’. There is never such a process. It is a regulation prepared with very good intentions. There is already a troubled situation and the way is paved for this to contribute to production. Currently, the amount of cultivable agricultural land in Türkiye is around 23-24 million hectares. The amount of land that we think cannot be cultivated at the moment is around 450 thousand hectares. This is approximately 2 percent of our total agricultural land. We are talking about 3 times the agricultural land of a province the size of Kars. With this method, we will have the opportunity to lease out a land as much as the agricultural land of 3 provinces and add it to production.”
“THE MINISTRY WILL DETERMINE THE CROP TO BE SOWN”
Giving information about the content of the process, Dr. Kılıç noted, “If there is no activity in which field, these will be determined and after determining these lands, the process of leasing out them will be initiated. The fair values will be determined by technical committees and the commission. If there is more than one suitor for a land, it will be leased to the highest bidder. The money to be received will be deposited into the property owner’s accounts. There will never be a lease below the fair value. The nature of the land will not be changed. The landowner will not be able to make any other disposition. It will carry out the agricultural occupation determined by the Ministry of Agriculture. If wheat is planted in the region, it will be wheat; if beetroot will be planted, it will be beetroot. This is determined by the ministry.”
“TREASURY AND LITIGATED LANDS EXCLUDED FROM LEASING”
Emphasising that the state will mediate the leasing of agricultural lands, Dr. Kılıç concluded, “It will be under the guarantee of the state. If we can explain this well, I think it will have serious supporters. This is a well-intentioned contribution and we need to evaluate that it will make a serious contribution to our production.”
