According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, agricultural national income has increased to ₺213.4 billion by 2109 and hazelnut, fig, cherry, and apricot crops of Turkey are highly popular among worldwide markets. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated that the agricultural national income was ₺ 37 billion sixteen years ago and added: “During this period, our fruit production has increased from 13.3 million tons to 22.3 million tons, vegetable production from 25.8 million tons to 30 million tons, field crops production from 58 million tons to 64.4 million tons, and total plant production has increased from 98 million tons to 117 million tons.”
Turkey Is Self Sufficent in Terms of Africulture and a Leader in the Export Market
The annual growth rate in the agriculture sector was 2.8% between 2003 and 2019, and 3.3% in 2019. Turkey surpassed European countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, and France and became the leader with $48.5 billion of gross domestic product. It provides agricultural products to its population of 83 million, 50 million tourists, and more than 4 million refugees. Pakdemirli noted that the increase in production has a positive impact on the export sector. While it was $3.7 billion in 2002, the plant export has reached to $18 billion by 2019. Turkey is the leader in hazelnut, fig, cherry, and apricot production and export in the world with a $2.17 billion export income. It is among the first four countries regarding the production and export of 20 other crop varieties such as apple, melon, olive, tomato, eggplant, and pepper. Turkey provides 1827 different agricultural products to 193 countries. According to the president of the Federation of Fruit and Vegetables Commission Agents of Turkey Halil Öztürk, apple exports are expected to increase in particular. Turkey takes fifth place worldwide with its 2.7 million tons of apple production annually. Öztürk noted that their aim is that Turkey steps up to the first place within a couple of years.