Agriculture is one of the most important and strategic sectors of the Turkish economy. The sector plays a major role in food security, rural employment, exports, industrial production, and regional development. It encompasses crop production, livestock farming, fisheries, forestry, and a broad range of food-processing and agro-industrial activities.
Türkiye’s geographical location, diverse climate zones, extensive agricultural land, irrigated areas, fertile soils, and wide range of agricultural products provide the country with significant advantages.
Türkiye produces a wide variety of agricultural products, ranging from cereals, fruits, and vegetables to olives, hazelnuts, cotton, sunflower, sugar beet, and pulses.
At the same time, the sector faces important challenges, including drought, climate change, water scarcity, production costs, fertilizer and energy prices, agricultural labor shortages, fragmented farm structures, and marketing difficulties.
Agricultural employment also remains significant. In 2025, approximately 4.56 million people, or 14% of total employment, worked in agriculture.
Recent production data also demonstrate how strongly agriculture is affected by weather conditions. In 2025, crop production declined significantly, while the first 2026 estimate indicates a strong recovery in several major crop groups.
- Türkiye’s Agricultural Geography
One of the greatest advantages of Türkiye’s agricultural sector is its geographical diversity.
Different agricultural production models have developed across the country’s regions.
Marmara Region
The Marmara Region has a highly diversified agricultural structure.
Important products include:
Wheat
Sunflower
Corn
Olives
Vegetables
Fruits
Dairy products
Poultry
Its proximity to major industrial and consumer centers such as Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, and Tekirdağ provides important advantages for agricultural processing, distribution, and marketing.
Aegean Region
The Aegean Region is one of Türkiye’s most important agricultural areas.
Major products include:
Olives
Grapes
Figs
Cotton
Tobacco
Vegetables
Fruits
Citrus products
İzmir, Manisa, Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla are important centers for agriculture and agro-industrial production.
Mediterranean Region
The Mediterranean Region is particularly important for fruit and vegetable production.
Major products include:
Tomatoes
Peppers
Cucumbers
Oranges
Lemons
Mandarins
Bananas
Strawberries
Greenhouse farming and export-oriented fresh fruit and vegetable production are highly developed around Antalya, Mersin, Adana, and Hatay.
Central Anatolia
Central Anatolia is one of Türkiye’s major grain-producing regions.
Important products include:
Wheat
Barley
Sugar beet
Chickpeas
Lentils
Potatoes
Konya, Ankara, Eskişehir, Aksaray, Kayseri, and Karaman are important agricultural production centers.
Black Sea Region
The humid climate of the Black Sea Region allows the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural products.
The region is particularly famous for:
Hazelnuts
Tea
Corn
Kiwi
Vegetables
Fruits
Southeastern Anatolia
Agriculture in Southeastern Anatolia has undergone significant transformation, particularly through irrigation investments.
Major products include:
Wheat
Barley
Lentils
Cotton
Corn
Pistachios
Olives
The Southeastern Anatolia Project, commonly known as GAP, has significantly increased the region’s agricultural potential through irrigation and infrastructure investments.
Eastern Anatolia
Agricultural activities in Eastern Anatolia include:
Livestock farming
Forage crops
Beekeeping
Grain production
Potato production
Fruit growing
The region’s extensive pasturelands are particularly important for cattle and sheep farming.
- Crop Production
Crop production is one of the largest components of Türkiye’s agricultural sector.
In 2025, Türkiye experienced a significant decline in crop production. However, the first 2026 estimate points to a substantial recovery.
For 2026, TURKSTAT estimates approximately:
75.4 million tonnes of cereals and other crops
33.3 million tonnes of vegetables
31 million tonnes of fruits, beverages, and spice crops
The estimate represents increases of 12.6% for cereals and other crops and 57.8% for fruits, beverages, and spice crops compared with 2025.
This illustrates how strongly Türkiye’s agricultural output can fluctuate according to weather conditions and seasonal factors.
- Grain Production
Cereals are the foundation of Türkiye’s agricultural production.
Major cereals include:
Wheat
Barley
Corn
Rye
Oats
According to the first 2026 estimate, cereal production is expected to reach approximately 41.6 million tonnes, an increase of 21.7% compared with 2025.
Wheat production is estimated at approximately 22.8 million tonnes, while barley production is expected to reach around 9 million tonnes. Corn production is estimated at approximately 8 million tonnes.
Wheat is not only an agricultural commodity but also the primary raw material for:
Flour
Bread
Pasta
Bulgur
Semolina
Biscuits
Animal feed
Starch
5. Wheat and Flour Industry
Wheat is one of Türkiye’s most strategic agricultural products.
Wheat is processed into:
Flour
Bread
Pasta
Bulgur
Semolina
Biscuits
Feed
Starch
Türkiye has a highly developed flour and pasta industry, transforming agricultural wheat production into a major food-processing value chain.
Consequently, changes in wheat production affect not only farmers but also flour mills, feed manufacturers, pasta producers, bakeries, and the wider food industry.
Türkiye’s wheat balance also varies by product. In the 2024–2025 marketing year, total cereal self-sufficiency was 91.1%, while wheat self-sufficiency was 104.3%.
- Fruit Production
Türkiye’s diverse climate and geography give it a major fruit-production capacity.
Important fruits include:
Apples
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches
Apricots
Figs
Pomegranates
Olives
Hazelnuts
Pistachios
Walnuts
Oranges
Mandarins
Lemons
Bananas
Fruit production can vary considerably from year to year because of frost, drought, extreme temperatures, and other weather events.
The first 2026 estimate indicates a major recovery in fruit production, with total fruits, beverages, and spice crops expected to reach approximately 31 million tonnes, an increase of 57.8% from 2025.
The estimate includes particularly strong increases in cherries, peaches, nectarines, apples, grapes, citrus fruits, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, and olives.
- Vegetable Production
Türkiye has substantial vegetable-production capacity.
Major vegetable products include:
Tomatoes
Peppers
Cucumbers
Eggplants
Onions
Potatoes
Lettuce
Cabbage
Spinach
Carrots
Vegetable production is particularly important in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions.
The first 2026 estimate places vegetable production at approximately 33.3 million tonnes, broadly similar to the previous year.
Türkiye’s large domestic market and proximity to European, Middle Eastern, and Balkan markets provide important advantages for fresh vegetable production and exports.
- Greenhouse Farming
Greenhouse farming is one of Türkiye’s high-value agricultural activities.
It is particularly widespread around:
Antalya
Mersin
Adana
İzmir
Muğla
Major greenhouse products include:
Tomatoes
Peppers
Cucumbers
Eggplants
Strawberries
Lettuce
Cut flowers
Modern greenhouses increasingly use:
Automated irrigation
Climate-control systems
Soilless agriculture
Hydroponic systems
Automated fertilization
Sensors
Digital monitoring
Greenhouse farming enables farmers to extend production seasons and improve productivity per unit of land.
- Olive and Olive Oil Industry
Olives are among Türkiye’s most important agricultural products.
Olive production is particularly concentrated in:
The Aegean Region
The Marmara Region
The Mediterranean Region
Southeastern Anatolia
Olives are used for:
Table olives
Olive oil
Soap
Cosmetics
Food products
Olive oil is also an important agricultural export product.
Türkiye’s position within the Mediterranean region gives it significant potential to increase production of premium and branded olive-oil products for international markets.
- Hazelnut Production
Türkiye is one of the world’s leading hazelnut-producing countries.
Hazelnuts are particularly important in provinces including:
Ordu
Giresun
Samsun
Trabzon
Sakarya
Düzce
Hazelnuts are used in:
Chocolate
Confectionery
Hazelnut spreads
Bakery products
Snacks
Processed foods
Hazelnuts therefore represent an important connection between Türkiye’s agricultural sector and its food-processing and export industries.
Türkiye’s hazelnut production also has a very high degree of self-sufficiency. In the 2024–2025 marketing year, hazelnuts recorded a self-sufficiency rate of approximately 594.9%.
- Cotton Production
Cotton is a strategic agricultural commodity for Türkiye because of its close relationship with the textile and apparel industries.
Major cotton-producing areas include:
Şanlıurfa
Diyarbakır
Aydın
İzmir
Adana
Hatay
Cotton creates a large industrial value chain:
Field → Ginning → Yarn → Fabric → Garments
Therefore, developments in cotton production can directly affect Türkiye’s textile and apparel industries.
Increasing domestic cotton production can also contribute to reducing raw-material dependence within the textile sector.
- Sugar Beet
Sugar beet is another important industrial crop in Türkiye.
Sugar beet can be processed into:
Sugar
Molasses
Animal feed
Various industrial by-products
It is particularly important in Central Anatolia and surrounding agricultural regions.
According to the first 2026 estimate, sugar beet production is expected to reach approximately 22 million tonnes, representing an increase of 5.8% compared with the previous year.
- Pulse Production
Pulses are another important group of agricultural products in Türkiye.
Major products include:
Chickpeas
Lentils
Dry beans
Peas
Broad beans
Pulses are important for both domestic consumption and exports.
Chickpeas and lentils in particular have a long tradition in Turkish agriculture and cuisine.
Increasing pulse production can also contribute to sustainable agriculture because legumes can play an important role in crop rotation and soil management.
- Sunflower and Oilseed Production
Sunflower is one of Türkiye’s most important crops for vegetable-oil production.
Sunflower is particularly cultivated in:
Thrace
Marmara
Central Anatolia
Parts of the Black Sea Region
Other oilseed crops include:
Soybeans
Canola
Sesame
Safflower
Increasing domestic oilseed production is strategically important because Türkiye remains dependent on imports for some oilseed products.
For example, the 2024–2025 marketing-year self-sufficiency rate for soybean was only 4.2%, while the rate for sunflower was substantially higher.
- Livestock and the Agricultural Sector
Livestock is the second major pillar of Türkiye’s agricultural economy.
The sector includes:
Cattle
Sheep
Goats
Poultry
Beekeeping
Sericulture
Livestock farming is closely connected with:
Feed production
Dairy processing
Meat processing
Leather
Veterinary services
Animal-health products
Food manufacturing
The combination of crop and livestock production creates an important agricultural cycle in which crops provide feed and livestock generate manure that can return nutrients to agricultural land.
- Agricultural Irrigation
Water is one of the most important issues for the future of Turkish agriculture.
Drought and climate change are increasing the importance of efficient irrigation systems.
Modern irrigation technologies include:
Drip irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation
Micro-irrigation
Smart irrigation
Sensor-controlled irrigation
Efficient water management will be particularly important in Central Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, and Mediterranean agricultural areas.
Improving irrigation efficiency can increase yields while reducing pressure on water resources.
- Agricultural Mechanization
Agricultural mechanization in Türkiye continues to develop.
Modern agricultural machinery includes:
Tractors
Combine harvesters
Seeders
Harvesting machines
Sprayers
Fertilizer spreaders
Irrigation equipment
Feed machinery
The agricultural machinery industry also creates an important domestic market for Türkiye’s wider machinery-manufacturing sector.
Increasing mechanization can improve productivity and reduce dependence on manual labor, particularly during planting and harvesting periods.
- Digitalization in Agriculture
Digital agriculture is becoming increasingly important in Türkiye.
Farmers can use:
Satellite imagery
GPS
Drones
Weather data
Soil sensors
Artificial intelligence
Agricultural software
to make production decisions.
Smart agriculture can help:
Reduce water consumption
Optimize fertilizer use
Detect diseases earlier
Estimate yields
Improve crop monitoring
Reduce agricultural input costs
In the future, AI-supported farm management and autonomous agricultural machinery are likely to become increasingly widespread.
- Agricultural R&D and Biotechnology
Research and development are essential for increasing the competitiveness of Türkiye’s agricultural sector.
Important research areas include:
Drought-resistant seeds
Disease-resistant varieties
High-yield crops
Genetic improvement
Plant biotechnology
Soil fertility
Precision agriculture
Biological pest control
Climate change is increasing the need for crop varieties that can survive lower water availability and higher temperatures.
Agricultural research will therefore play an increasingly important role in maintaining food production.
- Agriculture and the Food Industry
Agriculture provides the primary raw materials for Türkiye’s large food-processing industry.
Major agriculture-related industries include:
Flour
Pasta
Bread
Sugar
Vegetable oils
Canned foods
Frozen foods
Fruit juice
Dairy products
Meat products
Chocolate
Biscuits
Animal feed
Beverages
The development of agriculture therefore supports not only farming but also a broad manufacturing and processing ecosystem.
The strongest economic impact occurs when agricultural commodities are processed into higher-value products rather than sold as raw materials.
- Agricultural Exports
Türkiye is an important producer and exporter of many agricultural and food products.
Major export categories include:
Hazelnuts
Dried fruits
Olives and olive oil
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Citrus products
Flour
Pasta
Pulses
Spices
Tobacco
Fishery products
Processed foods
Türkiye’s geographical location provides logistical advantages for reaching:
European markets
Middle Eastern markets
North African markets
Balkan markets
Central Asian markets
The country can increase the value generated by agriculture by expanding exports of processed, packaged, branded, and higher-value food products.
- Agricultural Support Programs
Government support is an important component of Türkiye’s agricultural policy.
Support programs can include:
Crop-production subsidies
Livestock support
Forage-crop support
Fuel and fertilizer support
Organic farming support
Good Agricultural Practices
Rural development investments
Agricultural R&D
Irrigation investments
Support for young farmers and entrepreneurs
The objective of these programs is to increase productivity, improve rural incomes, strengthen domestic production, and support sustainable agricultural development.
- Major Challenges Facing the Agricultural Sector
Despite its large production capacity, Türkiye’s agricultural sector faces a number of structural challenges.
Climate change
Drought, extreme heat, frost, floods, and hail can directly affect agricultural production.
Water resources
Efficient management of water resources is becoming increasingly important.
Production costs
Fuel, fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, energy, machinery, and labor costs can significantly affect farmers’ profitability.
Fragmented farm structure
The large number of small agricultural holdings can make investment in modern machinery and technology more difficult.
Agricultural labor
The aging of the rural population and migration of younger people toward non-agricultural employment create challenges for the future agricultural workforce.
Marketing
Long supply chains between farmers and consumers can create large differences between farm-gate and retail prices.
Storage
Cold-storage facilities, licensed warehousing, modern logistics, and post-harvest infrastructure are important for reducing agricultural losses.
- Climate Change and Turkish Agriculture
Climate change is directly affecting the future of Türkiye’s agriculture.
Major risks include:
Drought
Water scarcity
Extreme temperatures
Heavy rainfall
Frost
Hail
Wildfires
Agricultural policy will therefore increasingly need to focus on climate adaptation.
Farmers will need to:
Use drought-resistant varieties
Adopt water-efficient irrigation systems
Adjust crop patterns according to regional climate conditions
Improve soil management
Increase organic matter in soils
Protect agricultural biodiversity
The development of climate-resilient farming systems will be essential for long-term food security.
- Organic Agriculture
Organic agriculture is a growing area of Turkish agricultural production.
Organic farming emphasizes:
Reduced use of synthetic pesticides
Limited use of chemical fertilizers
Soil health
Biological pest control
Sustainable use of natural resources
Türkiye’s agricultural diversity provides significant potential for organic production.
Products with particularly strong potential include:
Olives
Figs
Grapes
Hazelnuts
Citrus fruits
Pulses
Organic and sustainably produced foods can also command higher prices in international markets.
- Agricultural Cooperatives
Cooperatives can play an important role in strengthening the economic position of small farmers.
Through cooperatives, producers can improve:
Input purchasing
Product marketing
Storage
Packaging
Processing
Branding
Exporting
Cooperatives can also help small farmers access modern machinery, agricultural technology, financing, and larger markets.
Stronger producer organizations can therefore contribute to a more efficient and competitive agricultural sector.
- Agriculture and Rural Development
Agricultural development is directly connected with rural development.
Strengthening agriculture in rural areas can:
Create employment
Reduce migration
Strengthen local economies
Increase food production
Improve rural incomes
Agritourism, rural tourism, local food products, geographical indications, farmers’ markets, and specialty agricultural products can further diversify rural economies.
Türkiye’s many regional food traditions provide significant potential for developing high-value local agricultural products.
- The 2025 General Agricultural Census
The 2025 General Agricultural Census is highly important for understanding the current structure of Türkiye’s agricultural sector.
The census covers agricultural holdings engaged in crop and/or livestock production and collects structural information including:
Agricultural land
Livestock
Agricultural machinery
Irrigation
Labor
Agricultural holdings
Production structure
TURKSTAT describes the census as one of the most comprehensive sources of structural agricultural data and notes that such information is important for policymakers, producers, researchers, and other agricultural stakeholders.
The results will provide an important foundation for future agricultural policies and investment decisions.
- Strengths of Türkiye’s Agricultural Sector
Türkiye’s main agricultural advantages include:
Extensive agricultural land
Diverse climate zones
Wide agricultural-product diversity
A large domestic market
A strong food-processing industry
Established agricultural-export infrastructure
Proximity to European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets
Diverse soil and water resources
Growing agricultural technology capabilities
A large livestock population
A long agricultural production tradition
A wide range of high-value agricultural products
30. The Future of Türkiye’s Agricultural Sector
Five major trends are likely to shape the future of Turkish agriculture.
- Smart agriculture
Sensors, satellite technology, drones, artificial intelligence, and agricultural software will increasingly be used in production and farm management.
- Water efficiency
Drip irrigation, sprinkler systems, sensor-based irrigation, water recycling, and drought-resistant crops will become increasingly important.
- Higher productivity
Increasing production while using less land, water, energy, fertilizer, and other resources will become a major objective.
- Value-added food production
Türkiye will increasingly need to move beyond exporting agricultural raw materials and expand exports of processed, packaged, branded, and higher-value food products.
- Climate-resilient agriculture
Agricultural systems capable of adapting to drought, extreme temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and other climate risks will become essential.
The first 2026 crop-production estimate already demonstrates how quickly agricultural output can change from one year to another. Compared with 2025, cereal production is expected to increase by 21.7%, while fruit, beverage, and spice-crop production is expected to increase by 57.8%.
The agriculture sector in Türkiye remains strategically important for food security, employment, exports, rural development, and industry.
Türkiye’s diverse climate and geographical conditions allow the production of a remarkable range of agricultural products. Cereals, vegetables, fruits, olives, hazelnuts, cotton, sugar beet, pulses, livestock products, and many other commodities form the foundation of the country’s agricultural economy.
At the same time, the sector faces major challenges related to climate change, water availability, production costs, agricultural labor, fragmented farm structures, storage, logistics, and marketing.
The future competitiveness of Turkish agriculture will therefore depend not simply on increasing production volumes but on improving productivity, water efficiency, technology, seeds and genetics, agricultural R&D, irrigation, storage, logistics, producer organizations, and value-added food processing.
Digital agriculture, artificial intelligence, precision farming, renewable energy, climate-resilient crops, smart irrigation, and autonomous agricultural machinery are likely to play increasingly important roles.
With appropriate investment and long-term agricultural policies, Türkiye can strengthen its domestic food security while expanding its position in international markets for high-value agricultural and processed food products.
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