The crisis between Russia and Ukraine, which has been going on for a while, has moved to another dimension with Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the states declared by pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine. Since the beginning of the process, Western countries, especially the USA, warned Russia not to invade Ukraine. On the other hand, with the thought that the possible Russian-Ukrainian war could create a good environment for the planned cycle of social, economic and financial events, it almost gives the appearance of waiting for the war to begin. Turkey, along with Western countries, seems to be more on the side of Ukraine. Considering that we rank first in the list of countries importing agricultural products from Russia, if the crisis deepens and turns into a war, it may cause problems in the supply of agricultural and food products in our country.
While Russia was a country importing agricultural products at the beginning of the 2000s, it has become a country that earns more than 36 billion dollars from agricultural exports with the planned steps it has taken over the past 20 years.
While the wheat production of Russia, which is the number one wheat exporter in the world, was 34.1 million tons in 2002, today the annual wheat production is based on 90 million tons. The same Russia today ranks first in oat production, second in buckwheat production, third in wheat and rye production, and fifth in the world in terms of production of all grain products.
In the same period, in parallel with the rapid loss of arable land in Turkey, there was a decrease in the production of agricultural products and a continuous increase in the import of agricultural products. While the annual production of wheat, which is one of the most strategic agricultural products, was 19.5 million tons in 2002, it has barely reached the level of 20.5 million tons today. If it is evaluated in the context of developments in agricultural technologies and opportunities to increase productivity, this increase is very insufficient.
Already the current production amount cannot meet the need, Turkey has been importing wheat for years. Our purpose in expressing these is not to praise the policies of Russia and not to criticize the policies implemented in Turkey. Our aim is to emphasize that agricultural production means more and more strategically for countries day by day.
Because although Russia is in an economically fragile situation today, if it is facing the whole world so easily, one of its most important guarantees is that it is self-sufficient in the field of basic food and agriculture, together with the power provided by its energy potential, and that it is a supplier for many countries.
The issue of agriculture and food is becoming more and more important for the whole world. It is predicted that a possible war between the two countries will put many countries, especially Turkey, into difficulties in supplying basic food products.
In addition, it is stated that one of the most important problems for people all over the world after 2030 will be the problem of edible and organic food supply. Despite the great strategic importance of agriculture, Turkey cannot properly evaluate its own potential in the field of agriculture.
Moreover, although we have the opportunity to evaluate not only our own potential in this field, but also the potential of the D-8 countries, which was established by our teacher Erbakan with a great mission in 1997, this opportunity and potential could not be utilized.
Among the D-8 countries, Turkey, Iran, Nigeria and Indonesia are among the top 30 arable land in the world. It is also known that other member countries have fertile agricultural lands where different products can be grown from region to region. If the D-8 had made a move over time in agricultural production by making product and land-based planning with a central planning, we could be talking about another scenario in terms of food, which is the most basic need for both our country, the Islamic world and humanity at the point reached today.
As we mentioned above, considering the edible food supply problem will be one of the biggest problems in the world after 2030, we can say that we are not too late. As long as the necessary will is put forward.