Agriculture and Food in Turkey: Developments, Policies and Recommendations

For years; overcoming the low growth rate observed in the agricultural production of Turkey has not been possible. The average annual agricultural production increase between 1968-2006 is 1.3 %. Changing governments, various programmes, diverse subsidies, projects, well-meaning reforms, different discourses have not changed this result. The low productivity and efficiency in agricultural production has not been overcome in any period. Let alone decreasing; the dependence of agricultural production on the weather conditions has increased even further with climate change. The desired transformation in the field of agricultural production does not take place. The small enterprises with a high share in the production and producing for the domestic market continue to cohabit with the commercialised enterprises predominantly targeting exportation.