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TURKISH AGRICULTURE IN 1980-2015 2016

Nazrin Hasanlı - 11411072

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Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................. 2

List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ 2

1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3

2. BASIC INDICATORS AND INFORMATIONS ABOUT TURKEY’S AGRICULURE........................ 3

2.1 Definition of Agriculture ...................................................................................................................... 3

2.2 The Place of Agriculture in Turkey’s Economy .................................................................................. 4

3. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IN 1980 AND LATER ...................................................... 5

4. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS ........................................................................................................ 6

4.1 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 6

4.1.1 Large and Small Ruminants Breeding .......................................................................................... 7

4.2 PLANT PRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 9

4.2.1 Feed Plants .................................................................................................................................. 10

4.2.2 Fruits and Vegetables .................................................................................................................. 10

5. ARABLE LANDS IN AGRICULTURE ................................................................................................. 11

6. LABOR FORCE IN AGRICULTURE .................................................................................................... 13

7. THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN IMPORT AND EXPORT ............................................................ 16

8. ECONOMIC POLICIES AND THE PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURE .............................................. 17

8.1 Agricultural Supports in Turkey ........................................................................................................ 18

8.2 Main Structural Problems and Solution Ways ................................................................................... 18

9. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................ 19

References .................................................................................................................................................... 20

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List of Tables

1. Table 1. Agricultural GDP of Turkey with real prices and growth rate…………………5

2. Table 2. Production of large and small ruminants…………………………………………7

3. Table 3. Production of Egg and Meat between 2002 and 2015…………………………8

4. Table 4. Agricultural areas in Turkey, comperassion of some years……………………9

5. Table 5. Production, area, number of producers, 2007-2015……………………………9

6. Table 6. Production amounts of some fruits in Turkey in several years (ton)…………11

7. Table 7. Population and labour force in 2015……………………………………………14

8. Table 8. Number of registered farmers in several years……………………………………15

9. Table 9. Average daily wages paid to seasonal agricultural workers by years of 2008-

2011 (TL) …………………………………………………………………………………………15

10. Table 10. Average monthly wages paid to permanent agricultural workers by years of

2008-2011 (TL)…………………………………………………………………………………15

List of Figures

1. Figure 1. Livestock Products in tons………………………………………………………8

2. Figure 2. Agricultural Zones of Turkey……………………………………………………12

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1. INTRODUCTION

Agriculture plays the main role in mankind’s life to survive. The agriculture sector has a

significant mission in Turkey’s economic development, development of communities, social

development, imports, and exports. Turkey’s agricultural sector has a large percentage in total

economic activities of the country. Generally, to develop the country’s economy and status,

agriculture, which is basic action of countries in economy, should be improved.

The agricultural sector is an integral part of the overall economic system. The place of the

agricultural sector in the general economy is measured by its share in the economy, the added

value it creates in the overall economy. The agricultural sector's contribution to the economy

comes from the relation of agricultural production with general employment, foreign trade and

other sectors of the economy. The agricultural industry, which is interested in producing raw

materials, still contributes more to the economy than the other sectors in our country and has

economic precaution. This becomes clearer, when the sectors that make up the overall Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) are taken into consideration one by one. This suggests that our country

has a separate prescription in the general economy because of its huge agricultural potential.

The article contains basic indicators of agricultual sector. To find the problems, deficient and

missing point in Turkey’s agriculture, this article will handle the detailed iformations about

Turkey’s exports, imports, the quantities of production in livestock, plant and crop, lands

cultivated in agriculture, labor force and structural problems in the sector. The article will also

handle the GDP level of the country, comparison of total GDP with GDP in agriculture and

laborers of agriculture. There will be narrated the comparison of Turkish agricultural market and

export level within the world market of agriculture.

The collected data are generally obtained from The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock,

Turkish Statistical Institution (TÜİK), monthly economical and agricultural journals of Turkey,

and many researches provided by specialists.

2. BASIC INDICATORS AND INFORMATION ABOUT

TURKEY’S AGRICULTURE

2.1 Definition of Agriculture

Agriculture is the raising of useful both plants and animals for human needs. It is concerned with

cultivating land, raising crops, feeding, breeding and raising livestock; farming. It is a sector that

has significant influence on the development of communities.

Food needs is an indispensable element in order to ensure the mankind’s life. Early farmers

developed crops and livestock mainly to feed their families and local people. From early years till

now, it had important role in human’s life and will continue to have.

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The agricultural sector has undertaken a numerous, considerable segment in economic and social

development of the countries. Therefore, in the future, farming and agriculture is expected to

continue the activities that are undertaken until today.

2.2 The Place of Agriculture in Turkey’s Economy

Agriculture has the main share of the exports and imports of Turkey’s economy. Turkey has a

large and growing food and agriculture industry that corresponds to 9% of the overall gross

value-added (GVA) and absorbs 25% of the employment in the country which account for some

5.4 million people. The GDP data reflects that the share of agricultural sector in total production

only spikes during crisis times, and has been falling steadily from around 20% back in the 1980’s

to 8-9% in the past few years. Rapid growth rates of the service, which employ more than 13

million people and rapid increase in price deflectors in recent years have been limiting the share

of agriculture in total production. However, the slow growth of the agricultural production in real

terms constitutes a problem for the agricultural sector itself on the back of productivity related

problems.

The agriculture sector has been Turkey's largest employer and a major contributor to the country's

GDP, although its share of the economy has fallen continuously over a few years. In 1999, it

accounted for 15 percent of GDP, while employing about half of the labor force. Despite the

share of industry and services are raising constantly. Although the sector has grown over time,

the growth has been only about 1 percent faster than the country's population, and much slower

than that of the industrial and services sectors. Farmers have been slow to assimilate modern

techniques, and much of the potential land and water resources are insufficient. (Food and

Agriculture in Turkey, 2014)

Turkey is one of the few self-supporting countries in the world in terms of food. Turkey's fertile

soil, suitable climate, and rich rainfall permit growing almost any kinds of crops. The farming is

less practiced in the mountainous eastern regions, where the main activity is based on animal

husbandry, which has a large share of the gross value of the total agricultural production. In terms

of agricultural lands, Turkey is also one of the largest countries in the world, like in total

production. (Food and Agriculture in Turkey, 2014)

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Table

1.

Agricultural GDP of Turkey with real prices and growth rate

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock, 2016

Turkeys’ main export markets are the EU, the United States, Middle East to which Turkey

generally exports dried fruit as pistachilo and hazelnuts, cotton, and tobacco, fresh fruit,

vegetables, and meats. After 1999, the total agricultural exports had risen to US$2.4 billion and

accounted for 9 percent of Turkey's export earnings. Some of this products take a big part of the

production of manifacture sector exports such as textile and clothing. 55% of gross value of

Turkey's agricultural sector exsist of crops, livestock represents 34 % and fishing take the rest.

3. HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IN 1980 AND LATER

The agricultural sector is generally an integral part of the economic system. The position of the

agricultural sector in the country's economy is measured by the added value that agriculture has

created in the overall economy. This added value consists of titles such as the resulting output of

agricultural activities, input on agricultural output, foreign trade, employment and other sectors.

There is a strong relationship and interaction between the agricultural sector and the industrial

sector in the economic development process. (TOBB, 2013)

Year Value

(thousand

TL)

Growth rate

(%)

Value

(thousand

TL)

Growth rate (%)

2002 8.860.011 8,8 72.519.831 6,2

2003 8.683.024 -2,0 76.338.193 5,3

2004 8.928.676 2,8 83.485.591 9,4

2005 9.570.097 7,2 90.499.731 8,4

2006 9.700.280 1,4 96.738.320 6,9

2007 9.046.107 -6,7 101.254.625 4,7

2008 9.432.905 4,3 101.921.730 0,7

2009 9.767.969 3,6 97.003.114 -4,8

2010 9.998.745 2,4 105.885.644 9,2

2011 10.604.053 6,1 115.174.724 8,8

2012 10.935.277 3,1 117.625.021 2,1

2013 11.315.315 3,5 122.556.461 4,2

2014 11.082.921 -2,1 126.257.811 3,0

2015 11.856.862 7,0 131.272.703 4,0

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With the entry into force of the January 24, 1980 program, many changes have taken place in the

agriculture policies of governments. In the 1980s, neo - liberal policies were put into practice and

became widespread. In the beginning, it has affected many countries. Generally; privatization,

reducing competition, lowering the wages of the workers, which is seen as a factor, in order to

prevent possible crises in front of the circulation of the capital, efforts to lift the barriers are the

main determinants of this process has come out. The increase in production up to the 1980s in

agriculture was the main point of self-sufficiency, but this has changed with the policies

implemented since 1980.

In this time period, conservative policies for agriculture were practiced throughout the world too.

In the beginning of 1980s, countries made decisions planned to liberalize agriculture, as a result

of abundance of agricultural production and recession in the international markets. Member

countries of GATT have signed “Agreement on Agriculture” and decided to decrease

conservation in the first years of 1990s.

In this period, the attitude of state "guardian and regulatory" against agriculture has changed.

There has been a policy change in agricultural production that will ensure that, it is subject to

market conditions. The Foreign trade protection has been reduced, input subsidies have been

abolished, product price support has almost come to an end and its scope has been narrowed.

Again in this period, the public institutions regulating the agricultural markets have lost their

advantages. In order to increase the competitiveness of the economy, manufacturing industry and

services, which is the external adjective, agriculture is desired to be used as an effective tool.

4. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS

4.1 LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION

Animal husbandry has a great potential and it is precious in Turkey's economy and agricultural

sector. Animal production activities are increasing labor productivity, the reduction of the risk

factor from natural and economic conditions are contributing the business of Turkey. The

contribution of livestock production is 26,5% in the agricultural production value (of 89.782

million TL). The greatest contribution to livestock production value comes from cow milk as

much as 42 % of it. Contribution of milk production in agricultural production is 11.2%. Dairy

cattle, is main and side employment source of millions living in rural. Means, economically and

socially very important sector and employment.

The livestock sector in Turkey, consisting mainly of cattle, dairy, buffalo, poultry, sheep and

goats, includes traditional and commercial activities. Meat consumption is at 6,2 kg; whereas

milk consumption is at 143 kg per capita in Turkey. Per capita consumption of red meat is about

one-fifth of the EU average and consumption of cows milk and poultry eggs is, respectively, half

and three-fourths of the EU level. Interestingly, per capita consumption of sheep meat is higher

than in the EU. (Yeşilada, 2016)

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4.1.1 Large and Small Ruminants Breeding

According to the Turkish Statistics Office (TÜİK), Turkey’s buffalo population fell from

1,040,000 head in 1980 to 86,297 in 2009. buffalo are kept by small holder farmers. Buffalo are

raised mostly for milk. The male calves are sold for fattening or to be grown out as draught

animals. Milk and its products are the main output of Turkish buffalo. Meat is of lesser

importance and is generally provided from animals at the end of the productive life. The leathers

contribute to total output in small numbers.

Table 2. Production of large and small ruminants

Source: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock

4.1.2 Poultry Breeding

Meat consumption in Turkey is primarily focused on veil, lamb and chicken. Annual

consumption of red meat in Turkey increased by 28% between 2010 and 2013 to reach 996,000

tons in 2015. The size of Turkey's processed red meat products market increased by 8.7% in 2013

over 2012. (Durmuş, 2014)

Years Cattle Buffalo Total large

ruminants

Sheep Goat Total

small

ruminats

2002 9.803.498 121.077 9.924.575 25.173.706 6.780.094 31.953.800

2003 9.803.498 121.077 9.924.575 25.173.706 6.780.094 31.953.80

2004 10.069.346 103.900 10.173.246 25.201.15 6.609.937 31.811.092

2005 10.526.440 104.965 10.631.405 25.304.325 6.517.464 31.821.789

2006 10.871.364 100.516 10.971.880 25.616.912 6.643.294 32.260.206

2007 11.036.753 84.705 11.121.458 25.475.293 6.286.358 31.761.651

2008 10.859.942 86.297 10.946.239 23.974.591 5.593.561 29.568.152

2009 10.723.958 87.207 10.811.165 21.749.508 5.128.285 26.877.793

2010 11.369.800 84.726 11.454.526 23.089.691 6.293.233 29.382.924

2011 12.386.337 97.632 12.483.969 25.031.565 7.277.953 32.309.518

2012 13.914.912 107.435 14.022.347 27.425.233 8.357.286 35.782.519

2013 14.415.257 117.591 14.532.848 29.284.247 9.225.548 38.509.795

2014 14.223.109 122.114 14.345.223 31.140.244 10.344.936 41.485.180

2015 13.994.071 133.766 14.127.837 31.507.934 10.416.166 41.924.100

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Table 3. Production of Egg and Meat between 2002 and 2015

Poultry Breeding 2002-2015

Year Production

Egg (million) Meat (tons)

2002 11.555 596.187

2003 12.667 872.419

2004 11.056 876.774

2005 12.052 936.687

2006 11.734 917.659

2007 12.725 1.068.454

2008 13.191 1.087.682

2009 13.833 1.293.315

2010 11.841 1.444.059

2011 12.955 1.613.309

2012 14.911 1.723.919

2013 16.497 1.758.363

2014 17.145 1.894.669

2015 16.726 1.909.276

Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock, 2016

Turkey’s meat consumption per capita is 29.4kg. Because of Turkey’s low meat consumption

compared to 76kg in EU, 42.3kg in Saudi Arabia, and 87kg in Brazil and rising income level, the

sector has room for future growth. Turkey roughly produces two million tons of chicken meat

each year as there are more than 12.000 broiler producers. Annual turnover of the sector is

$4.5bn. (Durmuş, 2014)

Figure 1. Livestock Products in tons

Source: TÜIK, made by author

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4.1.3 Aquaculture and Fishing

Within 255 countries, Turkey is ranked 50th in aquaculture production and 26th in marine

fisheries according to Global Aquaculture Production (FAO). Turkey produces about 0.5% of

total world production of fish. There are three segments in Turkey of which are sea products,

aquaculture and freshwater products. Total fish production declined to 607K tons in 2013 by

some 5.8%. Products of the sea are the largest segment of the industry. Marine fisheries

production by catch was 374K tons. Aquaculture production was 233K tons. (FAO, 2014)

4.2 PLANT PRODUCTION

All herbal products in the agricultural sector in Turkey are catigorized as field crops and garden

plants. The garden plants consist of fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants. Feed plants, Cereals,

legumes, oil plants and some industrial plants are considered as field crops. More than half,

aproximently 60 million tonnes of the production are obtained from field crops. Another main

plant production groups are fruits and vegetables .There is an increasing production in both fruit

and vegetable farming.

Table 4. Agrecultural areas in Turkey, comparislon of some years

Agriculture

sector

1990 2002 2013 2014 2015

ha % ha % ha % ha % ha %

Feed 18.868 67,7 17.935 67,5 15.613 65,6 15.789 66,2 15.738 66,0

Fallow 5.324 19,1 5.040 19,0 4.147 17,4 4.108 17,2 4.114 17,2

Fruit 635 2,3 930 3,5 808 3,4 804 3,4 809 3,4

Vegetable 3.029 10,9 2.674 10,1 3.232 13,6 3.238 13,5 3.284 13,7

Total 27.856 100 26.579 100 23.800 100 23.939 100 23.949 100

Source:Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock

Table 5. Change in number of production, area, number of producer and number of province,

2007-2015

Source:Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Livestock

Year Number of

province

Number of

producers

Areas (ha) Amount of

production

(tonnes)

2007 18 651 53.607 149.693

2015 61 39.740 3.465.695 3.271.239

Change rate % 239 6004 6365 2085

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4.2.1 Feed Plants

Until the 1980s, Turkey, which is the leading exporter of all cereal products, became a net

importer of some products in the following years in spite of the increase in production,

population and consumption.

Turkey is the leading country in thyme production and exports in the world. It produced under

field conditions in excess of 80%. The United States has the biggest share in Turkey's thyme

exports. Importation of wheat is followed by a rolling trend depending on the variability in

production. Wheat production has increased because the product was not at sufficient level.

Importation of wheat is generally seen from the Russian Federation, Germany, Kazakhstan and

Ukraine. Soon barley production has decreased and as the result barley imports have increased.

The countries that import barley are mostly France, Russian Federation, England and Ukraine. At

the beginning, Turkey was the net importer in the market of corn, it became self-sufficient with

its production of around 4 milion tons in 2005 and even started to exports corn. The countries that

imported corn were Ukraine, Russia and Romania. (IGEME, 2009)

4.2.2 Fruits and Vegetables

Turkey, which achieved 27 million tons of vegetable production annually, is the fourth most

vegetable producing country in the World, after China, India and USA. Turkey is ranked first in

vegetable production in the World, in terms of unit area and production per capita. Also, it is one

of the top five countries in the World, in the production of many vegetable species. The highest

yield in Turkey is taken in the Mediterranean region because of the climate advantage and

greenhouse regions there. Compared to Mediterranean region, in Central Anatolia, Eastern

Anatolia and Southeastern Anatolia, the yield from unit area is very low.

In the fruit sector, production has increased regularly over the years. Factors that are effective in

this are the development of agricultural infrastructure, increased production of certified seedlings

and production for export in commercial scale. In contrast to the decline in cultivated area, fruit

planting area tends to increase. Between 2006 and 2011, fruit production increased by 12.8

percent. However, the quality problem in the sector continues to exist. Difficulties are

encountered in providing quality products suitable for changing market demands. Furthermore,

due to shortening of the harvesting season, the supply is accumulating in a short period.

(DOGAKA, 2015)

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Table 6. Production amounts of some fruits in Turkey in several years (ton)

Source: TÜİK, 2015, made by author

The fruit production plant of Turkey is 4.1 million tons’ production. The grape fruit group with a

share of 24.75% is at the first place of fruit production. Apple is the second most fruit produced

after grapes with 2.4 million tons of production and 14.6% share.

5. ARABLE LANDS IN AGRICULTURE In Turkey, 35.5% of the arable land can be cultivated. Furthermore, the variety of climate and

land has caused the product variety to be high. After 1950's years, with the effect of

mechanization, some of the meadows and pastures were converted into agricultural land, and in

some places the agricultural areas were enlarged by destroying the forests and turning them into

fields. The distribution rate of agricultural areas differs according to the regions. The least-

occupied area of cultivated areas is Eastern Anatolia and the most covered area is Marmara.

(FAO, 2015)

About 35.5% of the country are arable lands and 15% consists of forests. The cultivated land is

around 24 million hectares as per 2015. Around 18.4% of the cultivated land is irrigated.

Vegetable products account for 76% of total agricultural production, then animal husbandary,

meanwhile forestry and fishing contribute a minimal amount. Fruits and field crops make up the

most of vegetable products, wheat being the leading crop. (FAO, 2015)

Even though Turkey is a rich country in respect of agricultural areas, the division of the majority

of the lands into small parcels in terms of property ownership makes it difficult to benefit from

the economies of scale particularly in perennial crops and livestock. Turkey’s total agricultural

land is 38 million hectares as of 2015. The total cultivated agricultural land (including long life

crops such as fruit trees) is 23,8 million hectares. The share of the cultivated lands in the total

agricultural lands was about 70% in 1990s as this rate decreased down to 63% in 2015.

The land used for agricultural purposes has been on a slow declining trend given the migration

from rural areas to the urban centers which has gained pace during the last decade thanks to the

Products Years

2002 2010 2013 2014 2015

Grape 3.500.000 4.255.000 4.011.409 4.175.356 3.650.000

Apple 2.200.000 2.600.000 3.128.450 2.480.444 2569.759

Olive 1.800.000 1.415.000 1.676.000 0 1.768.000 1700.000

Hazelnut 600.000 600.000 549.000 412.000 646.000

Pistachilo 35.000 128.000 88.600 80.000 144.000

Orange 1.250.000 1.710.500 1.781.259 1.779.675 1.816.798

Grapefruit 125.000 213.768 228.799 229.301 250.025

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country’s rapid growth rate, magnified by the negative effects of drought, erosion and other

adverse climatic conditions.

Figure 2. Agricultural Zones of Turkey

Source:TÜİK, 2015

Turkey is characterized by extreme geo-climatic diversity which permits the production of a wide

range of livestock and crops. As per the classification developed by TÜİK, there are nine

agricultural zones in Turkey and the main characteristics of the zones are as follows:

Zone 1 - Central North: Continental climate; suitable for rain fed cereals, food legumes and

forage legume production; extensive small ruminants, intensive dairy cattle.

Zone 2 - Aegean: Mediterranean climate; suitable for extensive small ruminant and beef cattle,

intensive dairy cattle; rain fed cereals, olives, figs, irrigated cotton.

Zone 3 - Marmara and Thrace: Cereals, sunflower, olives, vegetables. Important cattle region

with many pure and cross bred animals for milk and meat production.

Zone 4 - Mediterranean: Western coastal area; suitable for rain fed and irrigated cereals, olives,

cotton, citrus, maize; livestock less important while significant goat meat production.

Zone 5 - North East: Hilly and mountainous high elevation area and the coldest part of the

country; suitable for extensive livestock production and subsistence cereal production.

Zone 6 -South East: Large fertile plains in the southern part. The biggest irrigation project (GAP

Project) under process. Suitable for extensive sheep production; rain fed cereals and food

legumes, irrigated cotton through increasing use of irrigation.

Zone 7 - Black Sea: Rain fed hazelnuts, vegetables, maize, tea; significant local cattle production

and extensive sheep raising.

Zone 8 - Central East: Rain fed cereal, food legume production; extensive small ruminant

production; local and cross-bred cattle for milk. AZ 9 - Central South: Extensive small ruminants,

intensive dairy cattle; rain fed cereals, food legumes and forage production. . (Yeşilada, 2016)

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The use of technology in agricultural production varies depending on ecology. The most

important ecological factors are soil, climate and geography. The most important factor affecting

the use of technology is the socio-economic status of countries and producers. Technologies that

will contribute economically to the agricultural sector are not products that can be imported.

Techniques must be produced for each country, each ecology which has its own unique structure

and conditions. However, in order to produce these technologies, the establishment of capital-

intensive industries are needed. Agricultural technologies are generally produced by non-

agricultural sectors. From the use of tillage machines to harvesting machines, many different

mechanical technologies have been produced, and Turkey has made very serious leaps and the

import coverage ratio has increased. The increase in imports, especially since 2010, indicates that

the use of technology is diversifying in the agricultural sector. The increase in the number of

agricultural tools and machines is primarily a result of industrialization and the development of

modern farming techniques. Moreover, the use of the tractor for non-agricultural purposes and

the perception of farmers as a means of social differentiation caused excessive demand. (TOBB,

2013)

The rate of dependency on the outsourcing of pharmaceuticals and fertilizers is still quite high.

However, in recent years, significant developments have been recorded in the production of

effective substances and agricultural drug preparations in Turkey. By importing raw materials in

large quantities, Turkey can only produce 78.7 percent of fertilizer consumption in the country.

For this reason, it imports significant quantities of chemical fertilizer both as raw material and as

finished product. (TOBB, 2013)

6. LABOR FORCE IN AGRICULTURE Share of agricultural sector, which constitutes approximately 25% of the Turkey’s employment,

in nominal Gross Domestic Product being around 8% in 2009, remains quite lower than the

employment rate. Sharp falls particularly encountered in industrial sectors during crisis result in

temporary increase of the share of agriculture in total production. The share of agriculture, being

12.5% in nominal GDP in 1998, recessed to 9.5% in 2004 and 8.2% in 2009. Rapid growth rates

of the service sector and rapid increase in price deflectors in recent years have become important

developments limiting the share of agriculture in total production. It is noticed that real

production growth in agricultural sector remained quite lower than the growth rates of GDP,

industry and service sectors other than the crisis periods. (Yeşilada, 2010)

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Table 7. Population and labour force in 2015

Source: TÜİK, 2015

Turkey’s economy uses an important source in terms of labor force in agriculture. With 4.842

million persons, the agricultural sector covers 24.7% of the total employment as of 2015. The

steady decrease in the employees of the agricultural sector, as of 1923, is directly related to the

increasing mechanization in the sector and decreasing average land sizes. However, in Turkey,

there are other reasons for migration from rural areas to the urban, one of the most important

pushing factors of the social demography. Comparisons made with the western countries put

forth that Turkey has still a crowded population in the rural areas and the migrations to urban

would continue in the following years. Even if the rural population is held down by social

measures, the dynamics of the growth would progress towards the cities. In this perspective, it

would be correct that the one of the most important problems in our economy is on-site

employment of the rural population efficiently. (Erdoğan, 2012)

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Table 8. Number of registered farmers in several years

Source: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, 2015

One of four people working in Turkey are employed in the agricultural sector. 83.8% of them are

unregistered. A large part of the workforce is 15 years aged or older employed in the agricultural

sector. Usually they work in their own business or for their selves or in family business. In the

agricultural sector almost all of the female population employers are unregistered. In 2009, the

percentage of unregistered female employer was 96%. (FAO, 2011)

Agricultural workers in Turkey are divided into two groups according to their working time,

permanent and temporary agricultural workers. Permanent agricultural workers are workers who

have been in management for at least one production period while working seasonally

(temporary) agricultural workers for a certain period during the year. These workers are called

day laborers, monthly workers or seasonal workers, according to the duration of work.

Table 9. Average daily wages paid to seasonal agricultural workers by years of 2008-2011 (TL)

Gender 2008 2009 2010 2011

Men 30,42 33,05 35,93 40,37

Women 21,30 22,35 26,00 28,28

Source: TÜİK

Table 10. Average monthly wages paid to permanent agricultural workers by years of 2008-2011

(TL)

Gender 2008 2009 2010 2011

Men 775 811 874 986

Women 667 622 618 717

Years Number of

farmers

Area (ha)

2001 2.182.767 121.964.486

2002 2.588.666 164.960.378

2003 2.765.287 167.346.718

2004 2.745.424 167.099.180

2005 2.679.737 165.826.141

2006 2.609.723 164.930.261

2007 2.613.234 167.277.814

2008 2.380.284 157.694.645

2009 2.328.731 154.360.407

2010 2.318.506 156.309.390

2011 2.292.380 152.048.523

2012 2.214.537 153.449.052

2013 2.183.270 147.293.244

2014 2.206.874 149.276.892

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Source: TÜİK

Starting from 1989, the minimum wages of the industrial sector and the minimum wages of the

agricultural sector were equalized. The minimum wage in Turkey is determined separately by the

Minimum Wage Determination Commission, which is convened upon the call of the Ministry of

Labor and Social Security, according to the status of the workers who are 16 years old and not

filled. (Boratav, 2004)

The number of Faculty of Agriculture, which is a higher education institution in Turkey, was 1 in

1933 and it raised to 38 in 2015. There are also vocational colleges that offer training at the

technician or expert level in different subjects. Graduates from these institutions are employed

within the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. (TOBB, 2013)

7. THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN IMPORT AND EXPORT Agricultural production is usually handled as animal and crop industry. About 64% of Turkey’s

agriculture production is crop production. Turkey is a major producer of cereals (wheat, barley

and maize); other crops (sugar beet, cotton, potatoes and tobacco); fruit and vegetables

(especially apples, citrus, grapes, figs, hazelnuts, olives and tea); and sheep and goat meat.

Turkey’s major agricultural exports are fruits, nuts and vegetables that approximately account for

60% of total agricultural exports. Tobacco, cereals and sugar comprise a further 20%. Despite the

overall trade deficit of Turkey, the agricultural trade balance is significantly positive, providing

some relief to external accounts.

Turkey is the world’s 7’th largest agricultural producer overall, and is the world leader in the

production of dried figs, hazelnuts, sultanas/raisins, and dried apricots. The country production

totals of 38.6 million tons of cereal crops, 28.5 million tons of vegetables, 17.5 million tons of

fruit. In addition, Turkey has an estimated total of 11,000 plant species, whereas the total number

of species in Europe is 11,500. (Yeşilada, 2016)

Given the governments’ self-sufficiency targets over the years, Turkey has a positive net trade

from its agribusiness activities. As of 2013, agribusiness related exports at $16.9 billion versus

$13.7 billion imports, with Turkey being able to post a $3.3 billion trade surplus. In 2014,

because of the drought, there was a production deficit in agriculture. As a result, the imports

exceeded 4 million tons. In 2015, Agricultural Products Exports amounted to 1 billion 581

million dollars, Agricultural Products Import amounted to 1 billion 465 million dollars and

Foreign Trade Balance gave a surplus of 116 million dollars. The rate of accepting agricultural

imports for agricultural exports is 107.9%. Agricultural Exports, which was 1 billion 642 million

dollars in January 2014 period, decreased by 3.7% in January 2015 period. (Yeşilada, 2016),

(BUGEM, 2016)

On product basis, Turkey exports hazelnut, dried figs, seedless dried grapes, tomato paste and

other tomato products, pistachio, dried apricot, tobacco, olive oil, cotton, leguminous seeds and

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fresh and frozen vegetables-fruits, fruit juice to many countries particularly the European Union

countries, Russian Federation and the USA. Major imported agricultural products are particularly

wheat, corn, rice, oily seeds and cotton. (Yeşilada, 2016)

Table 11. Top produced products of Turkey

Source: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, 2016,

8. ECONOMIC POLICIES AND THE PROBLEMS OF

AGRICULTURE In order to understand the necessity of support in the agricultural sector, it is first necessary to

understand the differences between the characteristics of the agricultural sector and the other

sectors. These features can be summarized briefly as follows. The most important feature of the

agricultural sector is that agricultural production is largely under the influence of natural

conditions, not under the control of the producer.

With all these reasons, the prices of agriculture and agricultural products have to be supported.

Agricultural support can be done in a variety of ways. Among these are subsidized purchases,

price supports for agricultural inputs, incentives for agricultural investment, incentives for foreign

trade and protection of foreign trade, loans with lower interest rates, milk incentive premiums,

natural disaster payments, restrictions on sowing areas and subsidies, irrigation investments, land

Alignment Products Productin in the

World

Production in

Turkey

Share in Total

Production

1

Hazelnut 858.697 549.000 64

Cherry 2.294.455 494.325 21,5

Fig 1.117.452 298.914 26,7

Apricot 4.111.076 780.000 19

Quince 596.532 139.311 23

2

Cherry 1.348.628 179.752 13

Chestnut 2.009.487 60.019 3,0

Melon 29.462.541 1.699.550 8

Watermelon 109.278.714 3.887.324 3,6

Cucumber 71.365.573 1.754.613 2,5

3

Pistachios 916.921 88.600 9,7

Pepper 31.171.567 2.159.348 6,9

Apple 80.822.520 3.128.450 4,9

4

Olive 20.396.699 1.678.000 8,2

Tomato 163.963.770 11.820.000 7,2

Lentil 5.303.278 417.000 7,9

Poppy 76.372 19.244 25

5 Tea 4.818.000 225.000 4,7

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Rehabilitation studies, pasture rehabilitation, investments such as land consolidation, animal

breeding, establishment of early warning systems against plant diseases and pests, collective

pesticides, research and publication studies, cooperative etc. As well as activities such as

supporting organizations.

8.1 Agricultural Supports in Turkey

Agricultural supports are a series of state measures which aims to improve farmers' economic

lives, organize agricultural production for public benefit, raise the prosperity of rural

communities and protect consumers from excessive price increases. There are 8 agricultural

supports which are provided by government. They are Area-based agricultural supports,

Difference payment support, Livestock support, Agricultural insurance support, Recovery

payments, Rural development supports, Interest discounted loans and other agricultural supports.

Every agricultural support is announced annually by The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and

Livestock. To benefit from the support offered by Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock,

the farmers must apply to the Ministry with the necessary documents that are desired.

8.2 Main Structural Problems and Solution Ways

Structural problems of Turkey in agricultural sector are generally seen in labor, land, capital, data

inadequacy, agriculture-environment relation and lack of Research and Development (R&D).

The quantity of Faculties and Institutions of Agriculture in Turkey are 38, according to reports in

2015. Merely, the data below showed us that one of four people working in Turkey are employed

in the agricultural sector and 83.8% of them are unregistered. To improve the performance in

agricultural sector and to have more qualified laborers, there must be more faculties, which will

help for raising the education level of the current workforce working in agriculture. Also, a large

part of the workforce is 15 years aged or older employed in the agricultural sector. Ensuring that

specialists and citizens participate in the food inspection mechanism can decrease the level of

child laborers in agriculture. There should be reforms that will promote the young population to

remain in agricultural production and take measures to ensure the employment of the young

population in agriculture.

To fulfil the land problem in agriculture there should be updating and defeating the soil database,

preparation of land use plans, acceleration of agricultural land consolidation efforts, prevention of

non-agricultural use of land, prevention of land division and dissemination of good agricultural

standards and practices across agriculture. (TOBB, 2013)

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9. CONCLUSION The agricultural sector, regardless of the level of development of the countries, has an important

place in the economic life of all countries. Because the foodstuffs and the majority of the raw

materials that people use to survive are provided by the agricultural sector and there is no

substitute for this sector. In the economic development process, there is a close relationship and

interaction between the agricultural sector and the industrial sector. The developed or

industrialized countries have come to advanced position by improving the agriculture of the

country. It means, agricultural sector has the significance role on the improvement of industrial

sector, which is one of the commonly criteria in being a well-developed country.

Despite the economic, climate and preference changes in the world, the agricultural sector in

Turkey has shown continuous growth. In terms of agricultural economic magnitude, it is the first

in Europe and the seventh in the world. However, the structural problems in agriculture in Turkey

are still existing.

With the continuous and rapid changes in world food supply-demand balance and the effects of

extreme speculative movements, the increase in the prices of agricultural products causes

instability. This situation brings with it the food crisis. The prices of agricultural products in our

country are rising faster than the index of total producer prices.

The fact that agricultural enterprises are small and scattered, lack of access to market and

inadequacies in organizing, the spread of education publishing services constitute important

problems. For this reason, the efficiency of agricultural enterprises should be increased on the

basis of the size of sufficient income according to the production type, taking into account the

social structure of agriculture. In this way, thus vocational and technical education and publishing

for the agriculture sector should be made use of information and communication technologies

effectively, and agricultural information systems should be allowed to be used jointly.

Agricultural activities should be carried out by large scale and specialized agricultural enterprises

using modern agricultural methods.

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Bakış

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