With its favorable geographical conditions and climate, Turkey is considered
to be one of the leading countries in the world in the field of agriculture and
related industries. This impressive position is best attested by rising exports
in almost every kind of agricultural products, placing the country amongst the
world’s largest producers. The restructuring efforts that began in the early 1980s, alongside a series of reforms such as privatizations and the reduction of trade barriers in the agriculture sector, resulted in a domestic market that is an integral part of the world economy today. Subsequently, agricultural exports, excluding processed food, increased to USD 5 billion in 2010, up from USD 1.7 billion in 2002.
As of 2010, the share of the agricultural sector in Turkey’s GDP is 8.4
percent, down from 10.1 percent in 2000, and the sector recruits around 25
percent of the total workforce in the country. Around 40 percent of Turkey’s land area is arable and this ample potential offers a large range of products such as grains, pulses, oil seeds, fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, poultry, milk and dairy products, fishery, honey and tobacco. Crop production, livestock and fishery/forestry account for 67 perce
nt, 26 percent and 7 percent of the total agricultural production respectively.
Internationally, Turkey has a strong dominance in production and exportation of many agricultural products such as hazelnuts, dried apricots, sultanas and dried figs. In addition, Turkey’s food industry is much better developed than that of the neighboring countries. Given these factors, the country is one of the largest exporters of agricultural products in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa (EMEA) region, while its trade balance is significantly positive.
Turkey has a population of 74 million people and is growing with a rising income. This makes Turkey one of the largest markets in its region, and the changing consumer habits of the younger generation boost domestic consumption.
