Farmers terrifying drought warning: grower postponed winter planting in many provinces

Şemsi Bayraktar, President of the Union of Turkish Chambers of Agriculture (TZOB), made a press statement about the drought affecting agricultural production and winter plantings.

Bayraktar stated that the effects of climate change have manifested themselves both in our country and in the world in recent years, saying: “In addition to natural disasters such as floods, frosts, storms, precipitation and extreme heat, drought is also felt. “

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IS BEING AFFECTED MORE EVERY DAY

Bayraktar gave the following statements about the current drought:

“Since our country is in the Mediterranean basin, it is one of the countries that will suffer from climate change. The negative effects of the extreme drought that we experienced in the 2020-2021 season still continue.

The extreme drought in the Mediterranean countries of Italy and Spain in 2022 also significantly affected the agricultural production of these countries. Agricultural production in Turkey is increasingly affected by these climatic changes”

Şemsi Bayraktar, President of TZOB

Rainfall has decreased

Stating that the 2022-2023 agricultural production and marketing period started in October, Bayraktar provided the following information:

“According to the information we received from our agricultural chambers, the October rains, which is an important factor for the products we grow, especially in the dry land, were insufficient, and this increased the risk of drought.

We can no longer see the rains that occur in the fall months as much as before. One of the novelties of climate change in our country is the insufficiency of autumn rainfall and temperatures above normal.

TEMPERATURE INCREASE

Bayraktar continued his words as follows:

“Since 2019, rainfall in September, October and November has been below normal. The situation also did not change in the September 2022 reports. There was a 23 percent decrease in precipitation in September compared to seasonal normals. Once again, looking at the temperature data, September 2022 was the seventh warmest September in the last 52 years.

Above normal temperatures dry out rainy soil faster. Although precipitation in October was quite insufficient, air temperatures were above seasonal normals in most provinces.

In October last year, 30.3 kilograms of precipitation per square meter fell. The amount of precipitation in the same period this year was 30.8 kilograms. While precipitation decreased by 38 percent compared to normal in Turkey, precipitation was below normal in all regions except the Mediterranean.

Temperatures of up to 22 degrees were observed in the southeastern region of Anatolia. A total of 60 provinces did not receive enough rainfall for cereals and other winter crops. Many of our producers have postponed their planting.

It is waiting for it to rain to be able to October. Our farmers have planted in most provinces before the land reaches the pan. Those who had the opportunity to water watered. Our producers, who don’t want to wait any longer, are sowing these days even if it doesn’t rain, saying ‘that the seed stays in the ground and not in the warehouse’. If the expected rainfall does not occur in the coming days in the agricultural areas where the cereals are sown, there will be a risk of seed rot.

There has been a drought in the southeastern region of Anatolia for two years. There were significant yield losses in cereals and red lentils. The fact that there is still no rainfall in the region this year has created concern among our farmers about facing a similar situation. If there is no rainfall in November and December after grain planting, significant grain yield losses can occur.

APPLICATION FOR SUPPORT TO FARMERS

Bayraktar listed the following solutions for problems caused by drought:

Our growers must be supported against changing weather conditions so that our growers can produce in line with the changing weather and earn an income. State support in drought yield insurance must continue and premiums must not increase. To increase our farmers’ demand for drought yield insurance, damage assessments must be done accurately.

When our farmer faces a drought disaster, the compensation he receives should cover his loss. Drought and cold resistant seed varieties should be further developed regionally. The areas of use of disease-resistant varieties should also be expanded. Pressure irrigation opportunities must be increased and irrigation costs must be reduced.