The last session of Forum Muratpaşa, an important platform for Türkiye’s democratization and development goals, by Antalya Muratpaşa Municipality, covered the subject of “Agriculture” in depth. In the forum, which was held at Türkan Şoray Cultural Center and attracted great attention, Agricultural Policy Expert Ergin Kahveci, Agricultural Engineer İbrahim Oğuz and Simurg Women’s Cooperatives Union President Sibel Uyar shared their valuable opinions. The event, moderated by journalist-author Meliha Okur, discussed the multidimensional importance of agriculture and Türkiye’s potential in this area.
Agriculture is Not Just a Matter of Production, But also a Matter of Security and Justice
Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal, who made the opening speech of the forum, drew attention to the fact that agriculture is not only a production activity but also a strategic sector that directly affects the sociological structure, economic balances and environmental future of the society. Mayor Uysal, who pointed out that access to safe food has become more difficult with the increasing world population and that this has become a national security issue, emphasized that the world has limited resources in agriculture and production, as in every field. Uysal emphasized the strategic importance of agriculture in global competition with the words, “The world has borders. When there are borders, you know that there is a great struggle between states to have the largest share within those borders.”
Restructuring is a Must in Türkiye’s Agricultural Structure
Stating that the quality of agriculture directly affects people's quality of life, employment opportunities and the general economy, President Uysal stated that Türkiye does not yet have an agricultural structure that can compete with the world. Referring to the difficulty of small businesses and agriculture being competitive on a global scale, Uysal emphasized that agriculture is an activity that must be carried out collectively and in cooperation. He stated that the success of developed countries in agricultural sectors is achieved thanks to large agricultural businesses, strong cooperatives and effective producer unions.
Türkiye's Agriculture Roadmap with the European Example
Stating that lessons should be learned from successful examples in Europe in order for Türkiye to gain an agricultural structure that can compete with the world, President Uysal listed the basic steps that Türkiye should implement in the field of agriculture. Uysal suggested, “Türkiye should be immediately divided and organized with 500 agricultural cooperatives where farmers can make bulk purchases, bulk sales, mass production, use high technology, have high credit financing opportunities, follow the international system, easily find engineers and equipment, conduct perception activities, and cover all animal husbandry.”
Water Management and the Vital Importance of State Support
Emphasizing that water management is of vital importance in agriculture, President Uysal stated that water infrastructure investments should be a priority. Uysal said, “We must reorganize Türkiye’s water resources without leaving them to wild irrigation. Water must be brought to all irrigable areas.” Also touching on the critical role of the state in supporting the agricultural sector, Uysal stated that imports should not be a regulatory tool, and that serious incentives are essential for seed improvement, development of local species and production items. Uysal argued that agriculture should be a state policy and direct support should be provided to producers.
The Dutch Example Can Be Captured with Agricultural Construction
President Uysal, who stated that Türkiye could reach the level of European countries by reorganizing agricultural planning, said, “In the world, countries are now protecting their own production with very serious customs duties, just like we did between 1920-1939. In other words, the economic model that we implemented 100 years ago and achieved development with, and survived the Second World War with that development, is also the direct economic model of the world. The sooner we realize this, the faster we can keep our farmers in the village. We can develop our farmers, their life in the village, and their production. Agriculture needs to be built in Türkiye. When this happens, we may be able to surpass the Netherlands, which has the size of Konya, in 10 years. Then, we will not have an agricultural sector dependent on imports.”
Global Transformation and the Cultural Meaning of Agriculture
Referring to the economic transformations around the world, President Uysal stated that the global liberal theses of the 90s have collapsed and the world is once again turning towards national economies. Stating that nation states, national borders and domestic production have regained importance, Uysal emphasized that Türkiye must also keep up with this change. Finally, reminding us of the deep cultural meaning that agriculture has for Turkish society, Uysal concluded his speech by saying, “90 percent of the Turkish nation has an agricultural background. Therefore, agriculture is a romantic and meaningful issue for this society. It is the duty of all of us to protect this area.” This important discussion at Forum Muratpaşa strengthened the calls for Türkiye’s agricultural policies to be re-evaluated and steps to be taken towards a sustainable future.
