Southeastern provinces, covered by irrigation projects carried out within Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), is moving with firm steps towards becoming Turkey’s food base.
The resources owned by the Southeastern Anatolia Region are evaluated within the scope of GAP and used to increase the income levels and quality of life of the people living in the region. GAP, which also contributes greatly to the country’s economy, is taking firm steps towards this goal with its increasingly irrigable areas.
GAP region, where Adıyaman, Batman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Kilis, Mardin, Siirt, Şanlıurfa and Şırnak provinces are located, has 11.4 percent of the cultivated lands across the country and 20 percent of irrigable lands.
Thanks to the irrigation investments carried out in recent years, the region where product diversity and production is increasing day by day is on the way to become a food base.
GAP Regional Development Administration (GAPBKİ) Deputy Chairman Mehmet Açıkgöz said that the Southeastern Anatolia Region is rich in terms of soil and water resources.
Stating that the region has a good potential for agriculture, Açıkgöz said, “Our climate is very suitable for agriculture, we have fertile lands. Of course this region has an agricultural history. Southeastern Anatolia Region is one of the first places where agriculture is made in the world. Therefore, this fertile soil is important for the evaluation of suitable climate.”
“We have a great potential, as the GAP Administration and other institutions for the evaluation of this potential, we are doing a lot of work,” Açıkgöz added…