THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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In the shadow of wars, disasters and competition, the world’s leading countries shape their agricultural policies in line with the principles of ‘food supply security’ and ‘sustainability’.
The recent epidemics, wars and crises in the world have brought new practices in the agriculture and food sector, as in many other areas.
Countries prioritised ‘ensuring food supply security’. The USA, Russia, China, Türkiye and the European Union (EU), the world’s leading countries in agricultural production, have recently updated their agricultural policies.
In these countries, sustainability, export and import indicators, along with ensuring food supply security, constitute the key to the policies implemented.
Türkiye set its agricultural course with production planning
With an agricultural output of 70 billion dollars, Türkiye ranks first in Europe and among the top 10 in the world. Last year, the country produced 77.7 million tonnes of cereals and other crops, 31.8 million tonnes of vegetables and 27.4 million tonnes of fruits, beverage and spice plants.
Nevertheless, various adjustments were made in agricultural policies in order to further increase production in Türkiye in line with global developments. Firstly, a detailed study was carried out for the ‘production planning’ that was put into practice this year.
In the preparations, the principles of ‘food supply security’ and ‘sustainability’ were prioritised. Agricultural supports were redesigned in order to further strengthen producers and breeders.
In this context, livestock and crop production supports were simplified. While all producers will benefit from these supports, additional supports will be provided to those who produce within the scope of production planning.
Additional support will strengthen family businesses
Livestock supports were prepared to cover the years 2024-2026. For the first time, it was decided to provide additional support to family businesses, which have a significant share in livestock enterprises.
Within the scope of encouraging production planning, 50 percent additional support will be provided to the basic support for calves and calves born in provinces designated as milk and fattening material production planning regions, and 40 percent additional support will be provided to the basic support in milk production planning region provinces in raw milk support.
With the support for crop production covering the years 2025-2027, it was aimed to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production and food supply assurance, contribute to production planning, increase yield and quality, adopt environmentalist approaches in agricultural production and increase the effectiveness of the policies implemented.
Under the programme to support crop production, farmers will be provided with basic support, planned production support and production development support.
Barley, safflower, sunflower (oil), wheat, rapeseed (canola), beans (dry), lentil, maize (grain), chickpea, cotton (cottonseed), potato, onion (dry), soya and fodder crops were included in the planning.
Türkiye planned to provide 520 billion liras in direct and indirect support to the agricultural sector this year.
Agricultural policies in the US are based on the ‘Farm Bill’
Like Türkiye, the world’s leading countries have recently revised their agricultural policies.
In the US, the cornerstone of the current basic agricultural policies is the Agriculture Development Act, also known as the ‘Farm Bill’, which entered into force at the end of 2018.
The law is being implemented with a focus on increasing farmers’ incomes, promoting sustainable practices and ensuring food safety.
‘Food Security Doctrine’ is decisive in Russia
The Russian government is implementing 4 programmes, including the development of agricultural production, regulation of the agricultural industry, the fishing industry, the regulation of rural areas, as well as active participation in the turnover of agricultural land and the development of land reclamation.
Under the Russian government’s ‘Food Security Doctrine’ for food self-sufficiency, grain production exceeded the required level in 2022 and stood at 159 per cent.
‘Common agricultural policy’ is decisive in the EU
The EU aims to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector and increase food security by supporting farmers in member states through various methods. These supports are determined within the scope of the EU’s common agricultural policy.
The policy, which was introduced by the EU in 1962, aims to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce external dependence on food, ensure a stable and affordable food supply and provide a fair living for farmers. This policy is updated according to developments.
‘Food safety’ sensitivity in China
In China, where famine and food crisis have been experienced many times in history, ensuring food security for a population of over 1.4 billion is among the government’s top priorities. In this context, the Chinese government continues to work towards the systematic and planned production of agricultural products, self-sufficiency and the fight against the reduction of agricultural land through wrong and non-agricultural activities.
Recent wars, disasters and crises have brought about some changes in production planning in these countries like Türkiye…
By Mustafa Çalkaya,
www.aa.com.tr
