Drought-Resistant Seed to Enable More Efficient Water Use

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is continuing work on production planning for more efficient water use, supply of drought-resistant seeds and expansion of pressurized irrigation systems. Of Turkey's 8.5 million hectares of economically irrigable agricultural land, approximately 77 percent can currently be irrigated. To meet nutritional needs, ensure balanced and continuous production of agricultural products required by industry, resolve unemployment among the agricultural workforce and raise living standards, plans are in place to irrigate the remaining 1.9 million hectares and to construct the necessary irrigation facilities as soon as possible. Many initiatives are underway in the country for irrigation and more efficient water use. Under this scope, production planning will be carried out by determining crop patterns and taking into account land productivity capacity, rainfall and irrigation opportunities. In crop production, transition to plot-based planning and farm-based management is planned, taking into account water constraints and soil analysis. Under a water-based agriculture policy framework, farmers will be supplied with seeds of drought-resistant varieties in strategic crops. Water resources will continue to be managed under the "National Water Policy" with a participatory model. The country aims to achieve pressurized irrigation systems. Smart applications including artificial intelligence and modern irrigation systems will be expanded.

Transition to electronic meters

Meanwhile, the Irrigation Management and Plant Water Consumption System (TAGEM SUET), prepared by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, aims to ensure less and more effective water use in agricultural irrigation. Work is underway to install measurement systems in farm irrigation facilities to detect losses and leakage, expand automation applications in irrigation management and construct necessary facilities for reusing treated water in irrigation. The General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ), aiming to prevent the water shortage increasingly felt due to global warming, is upgrading piped irrigation systems in farms with prepaid electronic meters.

TRY 2.8 billion allocated

DSİ, which is among specially budgeted institutions, was provided with an additional budget of TRY 11 billion 450 million for this year. Agricultural irrigation provisions stood out among the budget allocated to the institution. TRY 4 billion was set aside for maintenance and repair costs of movable property related to agricultural irrigation investments in earthquake regions. Additionally, TRY 2 billion 835 million 291 thousand was allocated for expenses related to agricultural irrigation investments, and TRY 1 billion 800 million 367 thousand was allocated for expenses related to agricultural irrigation and flood protection activities. Source