Farmer Haberleri - Son Dakika Farmer Haber Güncel Gelişmeler

Climate Change Induced Crisis in Western Mediterranean Agriculture

The agricultural sector, dealing with the impacts of climate change, is making production preparations under tough conditions. Farmers are trying to adapt to rapidly changing climate conditions as they plant new seeds, prepare their greenhouses, and get ready for winter. According to the drought map published by the General Directorate of Meteorology for the 2024 agricultural season, the western coast of Antalya, along with Muğla, Denizli, and Afyon, are marked as "extremely dry" areas. Isparta, Burdur, and central Antalya fall under "moderate and slightly dry" regions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has accelerated efforts in water efficiency and flood management in the Western Mediterranean. Nazif Alp, President of the Antalya Chamber of Agriculture, noted a 40% decrease in rainfall in agricultural basins in the Mediterranean region compared to last year, stressing that this has severely impacted agricultural production. YIELDS FALLING, FARMERS STRUGGLING Alp pointed out that significant losses have occurred in agricultural production in 2024 due to drought, with the effects of climate change felt more intensely each year. Yield losses during harvest season can lead farmers to struggle financially, even causing some to stop planting. Alp emphasized, "Now is the time for planting in agricultural areas. Greenhouses are being prepared, and summer conditions are being managed. Support for farmers to carry out planting, irrigation, and spraying is essential. If farmers don’t plant, life stops." WINTER PLANTING DELAYED Due to drought, many producers in and around Antalya had to delay winter planting. Alp explained, "Producers are trying to operate under long dry spells and intense rains. Being in the Mediterranean basin, our country is among those most affected by climate change. Our farmers are finding it challenging to adapt to these changes and variations." He added that because rainfall doesn’t occur in expected seasons but instead exceeds norms in other seasons, farmers struggle to protect their crops. AUTUMN RAINS INSUFFICIENT Alp stated that autumn rains have decreased significantly in recent years, and temperatures have been above normal. Since 2019, rainfall in September, October, and November has been below expected levels, causing the soil to dry faster. This trend continued into 2024, with Alp noting, "We no longer see autumn rains as we used to." DROUGHT-RESISTANT SEEDS ARE ESSENTIAL Alp stressed that farmers need to shift to more productive seed varieties to cope with climate change, saying, "Drought-resistant seed varieties should be developed. Pressurized irrigation systems should be expanded, and irrigation costs should be reduced. New loans for farmers should be interest-free." He added that Antalya is a vital region where agricultural production occurs year-round, playing a significant role in meeting the country’s food needs.

Farmer training and consultation meeting in Altıntaş Akçaköy

A farmer training and consultation meeting was conducted by the Altıntaş District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in Akçaköy. During the meeting held in Akçaköy, a district affiliated with Altıntaş, farmers were informed about agricultural support, the importance of certified seeds, stubble fires, precautions to be taken when using combine harvesters, Tarsim (Agricultural Insurance Pool), soil analysis and fertilization, water and food waste, animal support, vaccination, tagging, and animal diseases. Following the meeting, questions from farmers were answered, and their requests and opinions were heard.

Strawberry producer went to the field

Especially due to the mild climate in Aydın, the cost of winter strawberry production is mentioned to be lower compared to other provinces, while the yield is higher. Farmers stated that the biggest challenge in the agricultural sector is the difficulty of finding labor. With the widespread cultivation of covered vegetable and fruit production, winter strawberry cultivation has also become more common in Aydın. Preparations for winter strawberry cultivation have started, especially in Sultanhisar and Köşk districts of Aydın, as well as in Koçarlı, Efeler, and Yenipazar districts. Strawberries planted in November are expected to bear fruit in March. In Aydın, where strawberry production has been increasing every year, producers who had a happy 2023 are already preparing for 2024. Spending about a month preparing seedlings, farmers raced against time to plant strawberry seedlings in the soil. In the Büyük Menderes Plain, where an average of 65-70 thousand tons of strawberries are produced annually, the yield is expected to increase further this year if the seasonal conditions proceed normally. With approximately 15 thousand hectares of strawberry production in Aydın, winter strawberries are planted in November and harvested in March. Summer strawberries, on the other hand, are planted in the spring and harvested as the weather warms up in summer. Workers in Aydın mentioned that there is work in the agriculture sector for 12 months for those who want to work, but the biggest problem in the sector is the lack of people willing to work. Coming to the fields early every morning, farmers plant strawberry seedlings in areas prepared with special methods and covered with soil. Once the seedlings have sprouted, the fields where strawberries are planted are transformed into greenhouses to protect them from the cold in winter, ensuring fruit production.

The Turkish Papaz plum tree yielded its second crop in the fall

The Turkish Papaz plum tree in the garden of Zeki Çiftçi, a farmer in the Kadıköy neighborhood of Buldan district in Denizli, yielded their second crop in the fall. Global climate change has disrupted the balance of nature, affecting trees as well. A new phenomenon, unprecedented until today, occurred in the agricultural-famous Kadıköy neighborhood of Buldan. Zeki Çiftçi, engaged in agriculture in the Kadıköy neighborhood, mentioned that his plum trees started yielding fruit after blossoming. He stated, 'In May, our regular plums yielded their produce on time. We harvested them. Later, the trees started to blossom again. Worried that the cold might affect the blossoms, we were surprised to see that the plums were starting to form. When we asked our elders, they said they had never seen or heard of such an event. We harvested the plums, and their taste and flavor were just like the ones we harvested in May. We heard that a similar situation occurred with pear trees in the gardens of our friends. May God bring a good outcome to this.'

Private administration provides significant support to farmers

Düzce Special Provincial Administration provided important support to farmers such as developing beekeeping, purchasing paddy seeds, purchasing pesticides against the American white butterfly pest, and purchasing in-hive strips with the active ingredient amitraz against the Varroa parasite. Düzce Special Provincial Administration, in addition to its efforts to build infrastructure, roads and public buildings in the province, also provides significant support to farmers. The supports provided by Düzce Special Provincial Administration, Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in 2023 are listed as follows. “Within the scope of the beekeeping development project, 100 thousand TL was transferred to the union to provide services to the villages. In the fight against the American White Butterfly, 181 thousand 594 TL of pesticides were purchased and distributed to the village and neighborhood headmen in need. In return for the 249 thousand 819 TL budget allocated for rice cultivation, farmer-contributed rice seeds were purchased and distributed to farmers. In addition, contributions to the development of paddy production will continue with the seed support provided to paddy farmers to ensure quality and high-yield planting. In the project of combating bee pests, 9 thousand 500 medicines were purchased for 281 thousand 627 TL for the purchase of in-hive strips with the active ingredient amitraz and distributed to beekeepers. As a result of the collective fight against the varroa parasite, which is an important problem of bees, apiaries with more productive and healthy colonies will be obtained, the capacity of beekeepers in the region will increase and economic recovery will be achieved. It is aimed that the support provided to farmers in 2023 will continue to increase in 2024.”

The sweetest harvest has begun in Sivas

Farmers entering the field in Gemerek district of Sivas started harvesting sugar beet. Farmers entering the field in Gemerek district of Sivas turned on the ignition for the sweetest harvest. In the district, where the beet harvesting process started with the beet harvesting machine attached to the back of the tractor, the productivity made the farmers happy. Sugar beets planted in April are sent to sugar factories in various regions of Turkey, especially Turhal. Farmer Kemal Pekyürek stated that they started harvesting sugar beet and that the yield was good thanks to the rains.

The sunflower harvest for oil and snacks in Bilecik, has ended

As the harvest is coming to an end in the sunflower fields planted in Bilecik's Gölpazarı district this year, 4 thousand tons of product were obtained. In Gölpazarı, 19 thousand 800 decares of oil sunflower and 1850 decares of snack sunflower were planted in the first week of April. The harvest, which started in September, continued until this month with the good weather. This year, due to irregular rainfall, the yield increased to 400 kilograms per acre, and a total of around 4 thousand tons was harvested in the district. Harvesters entered the fields to harvest the ripe and darkening sunflowers in the last harvest in the district. Producers stated that the rainfall was not as desired this season, and that if there had been irregular rainfalls, they would have been able to obtain twice the productivity of today. "As local farmers, we will continue to produce it, for Turkey's sake." Cemil Engin, who made the last sunflower harvest in the district, said, "We have started the sunflower harvest. Our yields are a little low in sandy areas, but our yields are high in black soil areas. The rainfall was very good until June. If a few more rains had fallen after that period, we might have been able to get twice the yield today, but let's say that was our luck. We, as local farmers, will continue to produce it, for Turkey's sake."

#Farmer