Agriculture in Türkiye: Key to Economy & Food Security

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Türkiye's economy, serving as both a primary source of employment and a crucial contributor to the country's food security and economic stability. With around 3 million agricultural enterprises across the country and an estimated six people per household, approximately 18 million people are directly involved in farming and related activities. This means that nearly one-fourth of Türkiye’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, emphasizing its deep socio-economic significance.

Beyond its direct impact on employment, agriculture influences several other sectors, including food processing, trade, transportation, and manufacturing. Türkiye is one of the world’s leading producers of various crops, such as wheat, barley, hazelnuts, and apricots, and plays a significant role in global agricultural exports. The sector also supports a vast rural economy, sustaining smallholder farmers, agribusinesses, and supply chains that extend from local markets to international trade.

In addition, agriculture remains integral to Türkiye’s cultural heritage and rural identity, with traditional farming practices being passed down through generations. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, rising input costs, and market fluctuations. These factors necessitate strong policy interventions and modernized agricultural practices to enhance sustainability and productivity.

Before delving into the structure of agriculture in Türkiye, it is essential to recognize the critical impact of government policies, subsidies, and technological advancements in shaping the industry. The right initiatives can bolster resilience, improve rural livelihoods, and ensure long-term food security, making agriculture not just a pillar of the economy but a strategic sector for national development.

Agriculture’s Role in the Economy

Agriculture’s importance in an economy is often assessed through criteria such as employment, contribution to GDP, impact on foreign trade, provision of raw materials to industries, and resource transfer to non-agricultural sectors. In Türkiye, agriculture remains a vital sector, contributing 15-20% to the economy on average. However, its relative share in GDP has declined over the years. In 1980, agriculture accounted for 25.8% of national income, but by 2022, this share had dropped to 4.8%, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). Despite this decline, agriculture remains a strategic sector, employing 15.8% (4.9 million) of the total workforce (30.8 million) as of 2022. However, employment in agriculture has been decreasing, with a shift toward the services and construction sectors. By the first quarter of 2023, the share of agricultural employment fell to 14.9% (4.7 million) of total employment (31.6 million).

Agriculture’s contributions extend beyond GDP and employment. It provides raw materials to industries, serves as a market for industrial goods, and meets the nutritional needs of society. For instance, the agricultural sector is the largest buyer of industrial products, fostering a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and industry. A developing agricultural sector supports industrial growth, while a growing industry, in turn, bolsters agriculture, creating a balanced economic development cycle.

Global Context and Türkiye’s Position

Globally, agriculture remains a critical sector, with 3.26 trillion dollars in agricultural added value, accounting for 4.1% of the global national income of 96.4 trillion dollars as of 2021. The top 20 countries, which produce 78% of global national income, also account for 56% of agricultural production. In 2022, global agricultural exports totaled 2 trillion dollars, while imports reached 2.1 trillion dollars. The largest exporters of agricultural products include the USA, Brazil, the Netherlands, Germany, and China, which together account for 32% of global agricultural exports.

In Türkiye, agriculture has maintained its strategic importance despite a declining share in GDP. The sector recorded a modest growth of 0.6% in 2022, contributing limitedly to the overall economic growth of 5.4%. However, the first quarter of 2023 saw a 3.8% contraction in the agricultural sector, the sharpest decline since the third quarter of 2021. By the second quarter of 2023, the sector rebounded slightly, growing by 1.2%, with its share in GDP standing at 4.4%.

Employment and Rural Population Dynamics

Agriculture is a significant employer in Türkiye, particularly in rural areas. As of 2021, 43% of the global population (3.4 billion people) lived in rural areas, down from 66% in 1960. In Türkiye, the rural population constitutes 23% of the total population, slightly below the European Union average of 25%. Countries like India (909 million) and China (529 million) account for 42% of the world’s rural population. Globally, 891 million people were employed in agriculture in 2022, representing 26% of total employment. In least developed countries, this figure rises to 63%, while in developed countries, it drops to 3%. Türkiye’s agricultural employment rate of 15.8% in 2021 is below the global average but significantly higher than the EU average of 5%.

The rural-to-urban migration trend is evident in Türkiye, driven by industrialization and urbanization. While the general population has grown rapidly, the agricultural population has declined both relatively and absolutely. For instance, Türkiye’s population increased from 13.6 million in 1927 to 56.5 million in 1990 and 62.6 million in 1997. The annual population growth rate has fluctuated between 1.1% and 2.8%, with the highest rates recorded in the 1955-60 and 1960-65 periods. However, rapid population growth in developing countries like Türkiye often leads to structural challenges, including unemployment and unplanned urban expansion.

Structure of Agricultural Enterprises

The structure of agricultural enterprises in Türkiye is characterized by small landholdings and fragmented ownership. According to the 2006 Agricultural Enterprise Structure Research, 78.9% of agricultural holdings are smaller than 100 decares, accounting for 34.3% of total agricultural land. In contrast, 21.1% of enterprises, with holdings of 100 decares or more, control 65.7% of the land. The average agricultural enterprise in Türkiye has 5 parcels of land, which are often small, scattered, and irregular, reducing productivity and labor efficiency.

Crop production and animal husbandry are the primary activities in Türkiye’s agricultural sector. 62.3% of enterprises engage in both activities, while 37.2% focus solely on crop production, and 0.5% specialize in animal husbandry. Land use is predominantly agricultural, with 97% of land used for farming. However, only 24.1% of agricultural land is irrigated, with higher irrigation rates in vegetable and flower gardens (72.7%) and lower rates in cultivated fields (27.8%).

Production and Yield Trends

Türkiye is one of the few countries globally that meets most of its food and textile needs through domestic production while also engaging in significant agricultural exports. Over the years, production of key crops like wheat, oranges, and milk has increased, despite challenges such as the phylloxera pest, which significantly reduced vineyard areas after 1980. However, high productivity in newly established vineyards has offset this decline.

In 2009, grain production increased by 14%, while vegetable and fruit production saw slight declines. Wheat production rose by 15.4% to 20.5 million tons, barley by 21.6% to 7.2 million tons, and grain corn decreased by 0.6% to 4.2 million tons. Legume production also saw significant growth, with red lentils increasing by 221.4% and green lentils by 11.7%.

Agricultural Industry and Inputs

The agricultural industry in Türkiye relies heavily on raw materials from the agricultural sector, with significant exports of raw and processed agricultural products. The food and textile industries are the primary sectors processing agricultural raw materials. However, the industry has not yet reached its full potential, with challenges such as low capacity utilization and outdated technology.

The use of agricultural inputs like fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery has increased significantly, boosting productivity. For example, tractor production grew tenfold from 1965 to 1992, reaching 725,000 units. By 2008, Türkiye had 1,070,746 tractors of various types. However, excessive use of inputs has led to environmental issues in some regions.

Contribution to Nutrition and Public Health

Agriculture’s primary function is to produce food, ensuring the survival and well-being of the population. In Türkiye, per capita food consumption has improved over the years, with increased consumption of wheat products, potatoes, legumes, milk, eggs, and poultry. However, meat consumption remains low compared to developed countries, with an annual per capita consumption of 31.5 kg in 1984, far below the 70-80 kg in developed nations. The imbalance between plant and animal protein sources (71% vs. 29%) highlights the need for improved nutrition policies.

Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection

Agriculture also plays a crucial role in environmental sustainability. Forests and green areas, which cover 25% of Türkiye’s land, are essential for maintaining ecological balance and public health. However, only 40% of these forests are of good quality, underscoring the need for sustainable development policies. Protecting green areas and preventing pollution are critical for ensuring a healthy environment for future generations.

Conclusion

Agriculture remains a vital pillar of Türkiye’s economy, culture, and rural livelihood, despite its declining share in GDP and employment. The sector plays a crucial role in food security, foreign trade, and industrial development, providing raw materials to major industries and sustaining millions of livelihoods. However, challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, rural-urban migration, and fragmented landholdings necessitate targeted policies and innovations for long-term sustainability.

Moving forward, investment in modern agricultural technologies, efficient water management, and sustainable farming practices will be key to enhancing productivity and resilience. Additionally, strengthening rural infrastructure, improving market access, and promoting agribusiness development can help bridge the gap between traditional farming methods and modern agricultural needs.

As Türkiye continues its economic transformation, agriculture must evolve to remain competitive in both local and global markets. By fostering innovation, ensuring equitable resource distribution, and supporting smallholder farmers, the sector can maintain its critical role in national development while contributing to environmental sustainability and food security.

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

Mithat Direk is serving the Department of Agricultural Economics, Selcuk University, Konya-Türkiye.

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