ISTANBUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Recent heavy rains have brought unexpected relief to Türkiye's agricultural sector, raising hopes for a high-yield harvest even as farmers continue to grapple with rising costs and economic pressures.
Data from the Turkish State Meteorological Service shows that May rainfall was 81 percent above the seasonal average and nearly double last year's levels, marking the highest May rainfall the country has recorded in 33 years.
The record-breaking rainfall has provided critical relief across key agricultural regions, including Thrace, significantly easing the effects of severe drought and spring frost that damaged orchards and field crops last year. The improved weather outlook has also boosted expectations for crop yields nationwide.
|Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli recently said the national average grain yield per decare is expected to rise from last year's 276 kg to over 400 kg this season. According to ministry data, wheat production is projected to increase by 27 percent year-on-year to approximately 23 million tonnes, while barley output is expected to surge by 50 percent to about 9 million tonnes.
"Meteorologically speaking, we have left behind a season free from major anxieties," Halim Orta, an academic at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University and a wheat farmer in Türkiye's Thrace region, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
"The timing and density of the precipitation aligned perfectly with the critical growth phases of winter grains and sunflowers." Orta said, adding that he expects a return to "stable, long-term" regional production averages, giving local farmers a much-needed chance to recover.
Yet, despite favorable weather conditions, experts and farmers say profitability remains under heavy pressure due to soaring production prices.
"Despite the good rainfall and minimal pest damage, neither the producer nor the consumer is happy this season," Orta warned, pointing to the massive gap between farmgate prices and retail costs. While global conflicts and fuel hikes have added to the burden, he said, fertilizer prices have become a particular concern, increasing by up to 300 percent since February.
"Without rapid price revisions, the country risks becoming entirely dependent on food imports next year," he warned.
Producers in other agricultural segments echoed similar concerns. Ahmet Aydin, a grower in Mugla's Dalaman district, told Xinhua that soaring fertilizer, diesel, and labor costs have made farming untenable. "Many producers are facing a breaking point where maintenance costs exceed harvest value," he said.
In response to escalating production pressures, Yumakli recently announced an upcoming upward revision to agricultural support payments, which were previously set at 310 liras (approximately 6.70 U.S. dollars) per decare for 2026. Further details of the revision were not immediately disclosed. ■
