The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is taking measures for drought that may occur with global warming. Continuing the preparations for the 'Agricultural Drought Combat Strategy and Action Plan', the Ministry also carries out abiotic (extreme temperature, drought, salinity, etc.) and biotic (disease and harmful) stress conditions, and even under these conditions, it has been continuing its high-yield and quality seed breeding studies for a long time.
In this context, 30 bread wheat, 12 durum wheat and 19 barley varieties that are drought tolerant were developed by the Research Institute Directorates and offered to the producers.
Tens of thousands of materials are tested morphologically, phenologically and physiologically in the Drought Test Center, which was established in 2010 under the Konya Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute and is the third in the world. At the center, 19 types of tests have been successfully passed and registered so far.
The registered varieties have been transferred to the private sector and TİGEM in recent years, and seed reproduction studies have been carried out. Among these cultivars, TANER and BOZKIR achieved an increase of 15-20 percent in yield, with their drought resistance and high water use efficiency characteristics, compared to the varieties planted in the existing dry, while TANER and BOZKIR increased by 250 percent and 200 percent in quality. Both varieties offer hope in adapting to climate change. SELÇUKLU, which was transferred to TİGEM, will be offered to the market with its features with higher efficiency and quality values.
EXPECTED TO SPREAD THE COUNTRY
Drought-resistant cultivars, especially in Konya, Karaman, Aksaray, Niğde, Nevşehir, Sivas, Tokat, Kayseri, Çorum, Çankırı, Yozgat, Kütahya, Afyonkarahisar, Erzurum, Kars, Kastamonu, Mersin, Ardahan, Gaziantep, Eskişehir, Denizli, Burdur and Kırşehir. It is aimed to spread it all over Turkey. Considering this spreading rate, the utilization rate of the developed varieties is expected to reach a significant level in the bread wheat cultivation areas in the near future.
TAGEM and FAO supported projects are carried out throughout the country in order to spread the protective soil cultivation and direct sowing practices as well as to develop varieties in the fight against drought. With these studies, the inputs of the producers are reduced by reducing the soil preparation costs. In addition, the effect of drought is reduced by preserving the moisture in the soil, since it does not work or break down the soil. With the studies carried out, an increase is observed in the number of producers using this system and in the directly sown areas.
Drought-Resistant Chickpeas
With the "Development of Drought Stress Resistant Chickpea Genotypes" project proposed in 2022 and to be carried out by TAGEM – Eastern Mediterranean Transition Zone Agricultural Research Institute Directorate between 2023-2027, new drought-resistant chickpea varieties are tried to be developed in accordance with the demands of the producers and the market. For this purpose, drought-resistant parent lines will be determined and a breeding program will be established. With the new varieties to be developed, the losses experienced by the producers due to drought will be reduced, thus contributing more to both the producers and the country's economy.
Within the scope of Warm Climate Cereals Researches, possible global climate change scenarios were evaluated by subject expert researchers in institutes affiliated to TAGEM, and first of all, drought-resistant cultivar development studies were started and these studies are still continuing. In addition, national and international projects are currently being carried out, giving importance to research on alternative crop plants and other agronomic studies.
PROJECTS CONTINUE IN EGYPT
Within the scope of the project, "Drought Stress Tolerant Variety Breeding in Egypt" financed by TAGEM, carried out between 2017-2021; Advanced quality lines were obtained from the populations created for drought tolerance breeding and candidate varieties were developed by crossing the pure lines that were successful in the previous periods with each other. This project is carried out under the leadership of the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM) and is carried out in the form of locations in our other corn working institutes. The second 5-year tranche of the project will be started in 2022 and work continues within the scope of plans.
FORAGE FOR LIVESTOCK
In order to meet the need for roughage, studies on developing drought-tolerant fodder crops (such as Hungarian vetch, grass weed, boneless bromine, sainfoin) continue.
Two varieties of Aksoyak and Özcan Hungarian vetch resistant to dry conditions suitable for Central Anatolia and Transition regions were developed in 2020.
The alfalfa studies carried out in dry conditions are carried out within the framework of the alfalfa breeding project. According to the results of the 2020 study, positive results were obtained in the region yield trials of two cultivar candidate materials in dry conditions, and a registration application was made.
It is widely used as roughage in livestock in arid and semi-arid regions around the world, but is not well known in Turkey. positive results were obtained from the studies. Reproduction and research studies continue at Ankara Field Crops Central Research Institute and Eskişehir Transition Zone Agricultural Research Institute.
Oat and triticale varieties, which can produce 8 tons of silage per decare, were developed as a result of the development of silage oats and triticale, which can be an alternative to silage corn, which consumes a lot of water and produces 10-7 tons of silage.
Drought-tolerant VARIETY STUDIES ON INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
The varieties named Linas and Olas were registered by the Trakya Agricultural Research Institute for the safflower plant, which is highly drought resistant and can be grown easily in marginal areas.
The Institutes are also continuing the TÜBİTAK project "Development of Drought Tolerant Genotypes with Superior Yield and Quality Characteristics in Soybean (2021 - 2023)". Drought tolerant soybean varieties are expected to be developed at the end of the project.
Cotton
The Project for the Development of Native Cotton Genotypes with High Fiber Yield and Quality, Tolerant to Biotic and Abiotic Stress Factors, with Classical Breeding and Molecular Classification Methods is carried out by the Nazilli Cotton Research Institute in cooperation with TÜBİTAK. During the project studies, it was determined that the Çerdo, Selçuk Bey and Volkan varieties, which were registered in 2020, are moderately drought tolerant.
For the drought-resistant camelina plant that can be grown in marginal areas and fallow areas without tiring the soil, the first domestic and national camelina (Aslanbey) variety was registered in our country in 2017. It is of great importance for Turkey, which has signed the green agreement, that both quality biodiesel and quality biojet fuel are obtained from camelina as a renewable energy source.
The "Drought Resistant Hybrid Sugar Beet Variety Development Project" continues in cooperation with TAGEM-University. Drought tolerant sugar beet varieties are expected to be developed at the end of the project.
AGRICULTURAL Drought tackling STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry continues to work within the scope of the "Strategy and Action Plan for Combating Agricultural Drought". Some of the goals included in the plan are as follows:
- Developing drought-resistant, tolerant and climate-compatible cereal varieties in order to combat climate change and drought, and promoting their use,
- Developing industrial plants that consume less water and have high water use efficiency,
- Development of drought-tolerant meadow-pasture forage crops,
- Introduction and dissemination of No-Tillage Agriculture, Reduced Tillage and Direct Sowing Systems in order to protect soil health and conserve water in the soil,
- Sowing drought-resistant plant seeds in meadows and pastures with direct sowing system,
- Development and dissemination of sheep and goat breeding in Central Anatolia (Merinos and Akkaraman development projects),
- Increasing the number of animals compatible with climate change in cattle breeding in Central Anatolia and ensuring the necessary transformation (Anatolian Brown Development Project),
- Determining the perception of drought and developing strategies accordingly,
- Identification, collection, characterization and integration of plant genetic resources into breeding programs.
KİRİŞCİ: WE ATTEND THE DEVELOPMENT OF Drought-Tolerant Species
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Prof. Dr. Vahit Kirişci stated that they are sensitive to the drought threatening the whole world and they are taking precautions.
Stressing that as the Ministry, they carry out farmer-oriented projects without ignoring the drought caused by climate change and especially agricultural drought while planning agricultural production in agricultural policy, Kirişci explained that they have been implementing Agricultural Drought Fighting Strategy Action Plans since 2008.
Noting that they announced the plan for the 2023-2027 period, Kirişci said, “We are working on both irrigated and dry agriculture and we are expanding these studies. Sustainability and continuity of these studies is very important. We are vigilant against the danger of drought with all our institutions and organizations," he said.
Underlining that taking measures to ensure food safety against climate change is among their strategic priorities, Kirişci made the following assessment:
“As the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, we deal with the issue from a sustainability perspective and shape our work in the light of current data. Protecting our soil, water and genetic resources, increasing productivity and creating product patterns suitable for water potential in production areas constitute the main framework of our work on this subject.
The development of drought-resistant species is one of the most critical issues we pursue in this context. We attach great importance to our R&D studies related to this.
The climate, soil, water and biodiversity resources we have as a country contain solutions that will minimize the negative effects of climate change.”