"Turkey's agricultural areas in the last 16 years, agricultural areas in our country fell from 41 million 200 thousand hectares to 37 million 800 thousand hectares", said TMMOB Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Istanbul Branch President Ahmet Atalık.
"The highest loss of agricultural land in cereals, other crops and vegetables. People who earn their living from agriculture are withdrawn because they cannot make money and costs are high. The growing debt of the bank is directed towards the agricultural loans of the banks and the debt is increasing," Atalık said.
Atalık, "Farmer's purchasing power is decreasing every year. This is reflected in the production areas. The people who make their living from agriculture are withdrawn because they can't make money and costs are high. Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (electricty) Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Istanbul Branch President Ahmet Atalik, particularly wheat, barley, chickpeas, their share of the shrinking agricultural areas of major products including lentils from Turkey Statistical Institute (TSI) has announced the data it receives, measures should be taken," he added.
"The territory of Belgium in the heart of the European Union (EU) is 3 million hectares. The total area of the Netherlands, which is 4-5 times more than the agricultural export income, is 4 million hectares. The farmer's purchasing power declines every year. This is reflected in the production areas. People who earn their living from agriculture are withdrawn because they cannot make money and costs are high. The growing debt of the bank is directed towards the agricultural loans of the banks and the debt is increasing," Atalık continued.
Cereal group of plants in the largest cultivation area of wheat and barley indicating that Atalık, "About 91 percent of these two plants are forming. 2 million hectares of shrinkage in wheat. The shrinkage in the barley reached 1 million hectares," he said.
*2 million hectares of shrinkage in wheat
*We paid $ 1.3 billion in wheat import
*We paid $ 1.3 billion in wheat import
*In 2018, 655 thousand tons of barley was imported
*Chickpea planting area shrank by 42 percent
*Vegetable cultivation area shrank by 15 percent
*Potato production area fell to 136 thousand hectares