The Final Declaration of the 4th Agriculture and Forestry Council, held under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was announced during a ceremony at the Beştepe National Congress and Culture Center.
President Erdoğan began his remarks by extending greetings to the participants and stated:
"In your presence, I convey my heartfelt greetings and regards to all our farmers and producers across our 81 provinces who work hard, toil with devotion, and earn their livelihood from the land."
Congratulating farmers across the country on the occasion of World Farmers’ Day, President Erdoğan said:
"May God grant all of them lawful, prosperous, and fruitful earnings. I extend my sincere thanks to each of our brothers and sisters for their contributions to our production."
Expressing his hope that the 4th Agriculture and Forestry Council will yield beneficial outcomes for the country and the nation, especially for the agricultural sector, President Erdoğan thanked Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı, his team, and all who contributed to the organization of the Council.
Highlighting the Council’s productive, comprehensive, and solution-oriented discussions over the course of three days since its launch on April 28, President Erdoğan stated:
“Within the framework of the Council, 16 working groups addressed a wide range of topics including sustainable agriculture, irrigation, crop production, animal health, production support, food security, fisheries and aquaculture, and technological transformation in agriculture. Short, medium, and long-term strategies were identified. Our Ministry’s personnel, academics, sector representatives, farmers, civil society organizations, and all other stakeholders worked intensively to bring the Council to a successful conclusion. I hope the decisions we are about to share with our nation will bring prosperity to our country and people.”
“As President, I will closely monitor the implementation of these decisions, which aim to enhance our agricultural practices and empower our farmers. Global challenges continue to mount—ranging from pandemics to the climate crisis, rising protectionism, and ongoing wars and conflicts. These issues affect all nations, regardless of geography or level of development. The struggles once fought over underground resources are now being waged over control of agricultural land and water.”
"We Have Launched a New Support Model"
Referring to the growing impact of the climate crisis, President Erdoğan continued:
“As a Mediterranean country, we are experiencing the effects of climate change more acutely. In this 'new normal,' the importance of soil, water, agriculture, and livestock continues to grow. Ensuring our nation’s food security has become a matter of national security. We are therefore shaping and implementing our water, agriculture, and livestock policies with the utmost seriousness.”
“In this context, we have successfully introduced a revolutionary production planning model. Starting with strategic products, we now determine what will be planted, where, and in what quantities. We have also introduced a new support model aligned with this production planning. Farmers now know in advance what kind of support they will receive for each crop and can plan their cultivation accordingly.”
"We will see the positive results over the next three years"
President Erdoğan noted that livestock production regions have been designated and that new incentives and supports have been introduced for those engaged in livestock farming.
“We will observe the positive outcomes of production planning more clearly within the next three years.”
Emphasizing the importance of conducting an agricultural census, Erdoğan said a circular had been issued to ensure that all institutions take ownership of the issue, reflecting the government’s firm resolve.
“Since our first day in office, we have placed special emphasis on the development of agricultural lands, protection of water resources, and strengthening of our forests. We regard theagricultural production as a strategic sector far beyond its economic dimension and will continue working with the same dedication.”
Key figures shared by President Erdoğan:
Real agricultural support totalling 2.1 trillion TL has been provided since 2002.
In 2025, 62.3 billion TL was paid to farmers, projected to reach 135 billion TL by year-end.
Türkiye produces 206 types of agricultural products, achieving self-sufficiency in most.
In terms of production volume, Türkiye ranks among the top producers globally.
The agriculture and forestry sector grew above the national average in the past year.
Agricultural GDP rose from $24.5 billion in 2002 to $74 billion in 2024.
Agricultural exports surged from $3.8 billion in 2002 to $32.6 billion in 2024.
Over the past 22 years, the sector recorded a $110 billion foreign trade surplus, exporting 2,218 different agricultural products to 186 countries.
President Erdoğan emphasized the central role of water in agricultural policy, highlighting that a total of 3.35 trillion TL has been invested in water infrastructure.
“We have opened 10,663 facilities and built three times as many dams as in the entire history of the Republic. Irrigated land has reached 72 million decares. This year alone, we will open 321 new facilities with an investment of 132 billion TL.”
Forestry and Environmental Achievements:
Over 7.5 billion saplings have been planted in 23 years.
Türkiye ranks first in Europe and fourth globally in afforestation.
Major investments have been made in forest fire prevention and technology.
Landscape irrigation will shift to drought-resistant plant species.
Open canal irrigation systems will be converted to closed, pressurized systems to increase irrigation efficiency from 52% to 60% by 2030.
"We Will Establish Agricultural Diplomacy Platforms"
Erdoğan shared some of the 86 strategic decisions adopted at the Council, including:
Expanding strategic product lists for crop, livestock, and aquaculture production.
Developing emergency plans to ensure the supply of critical products through local production.
Increasing the share of small ruminants in red meat production to 35%.
Supporting fisheries beyond national waters.
Developing climate-resilient plant varieties and livestock breeds.
Preventing antibiotic and pesticide residues in food through the “One Health” approach.
Creating regional and international platforms for agricultural diplomacy based in Türkiye.
Establishing agri-focused R&D centers, digital agriculture hubs, and an AI-supported agricultural monitoring network.
Promoting certified products, enhancing branding, and supporting exporters' international outreach.
Erdoğan concluded by wishing that the outcomes of the 4th Agriculture and Forestry Council bring lasting benefits to the nation and expressed his belief in achieving all targets through collective effort.
Minister Yumaklı: “These Decisions Will Form the Basis of Our Vision”
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı also addressed the programme, stating that Türkiye’s agriculture and food sectors have become more resilient to temporary and external risks.
Acknowledging the Ministry’s responsibility for activities across 80% of the national territory, Yumaklı emphasized their commitment to working with maximum effort.
He highlighted recent reforms, notably the launch of agricultural production planning, and praised the progress made in registering all agricultural lands and utilizing previously uncultivated areas.
“These steps led to a historic record in crop production.”
In livestock, he said a new roadmap has strengthened infrastructure, leading to an increase in livestock numbers. Accelerated irrigation investments are helping farmers better withstand climate change. On food safety, Yumaklı emphasized their new approach combining legislation, strict inspections, deterrent penalties, and transparent public communication. He also stressed technological advancements in forest fire prevention, highlighting that Türkiye successfully endured the hottest summer on record without major damage thanks to AI-based systems.
Council Process and Outcomes
Minister Yumaklı noted the growing global importance of food security amid climate change, pandemics, wars, disasters, and fragile supply chains.
He underlined Türkiye’s unique potential to become a key partner in meeting global agricultural needs.
The 4th Council was launched in September with broad participation:
1,597 members total, including 288 academics from 87 universities,
417 representatives from 234 NGOs, chambers, unions, and cooperatives,
205 private sector participants, and 687 public sector experts.
For the first time, workshops were held as part of the Council, where all stakeholders addressed challenges and developed joint solutions.
The process resulted in:
373 targets,
2,977 strategies,
and 86 final decisions adopted by vote.
“These outcomes will serve as a key reference for our policy framework,” said Yumaklı.
“We are confident that the decisions taken at the 4th Agriculture and Forestry Council will shape the foundation of our future vision.”
