Farmer–Exporter Cooperation Brings Turkey USD 36 Billion in Foreign Exchange Earnings

Turkey, with agricultural output of USD 74 billion according to 2024 data, holds the leading position in Europe and ranks 8th globally. Turkey's agricultural product exports reached USD 36 billion by the end of 2024. This success is achieved through the joint and coordinated efforts of Turkish farmers and Turkish exporters.

Turkey ranks among the world leaders or top positions in the production of many agricultural products. It is the world's leading producer of hazelnuts, cherries, figs, apricots, bay leaves, thyme, table olives, seabass, gilthead bream, oriental tobacco, and poppy seeds; second in quinces, honey, melons and watermelons; third in lentils, pistachios, chestnuts, sour cherries, peaches and cucumbers; and fourth in walnuts, apples, tomatoes, eggplants, spinach and peppers.
 
Turkey ranks 9th globally and third in Europe in raw milk production. Leading Europe and ranking 7th globally in beef production, Turkey ranks 9th globally and second in Europe in chicken meat production.

Turkey ranks 10th globally and second in Europe in egg production, while standing out in honey production at second place globally and first in Europe.
 
Aegean Exporters Associations brings Turkish farmers' products—ranging from dried fruits to olive oil, aquaculture products to medicinal and aromatic plants, fruits and vegetables to tobacco, processed fruits and vegetables to cereals, pulses and oilseeds—to all corners of the world, generating over USD 7.5 billion in foreign exchange for Turkey. It accounts for 22 percent of Turkey's USD 36 billion agricultural product exports.

Cold weather, hail and frost occurring in March and April 2025 and affecting 38 provinces have caused serious damage to Turkey's agricultural production. Significant losses occurred in the yields of many agricultural products, particularly hazelnuts, grapes, and apricots.

Agricultural insurance has become vitally important during this period to minimize farmers' losses from natural disasters. To minimize damage, placing agricultural production under cover has increasingly become a topic of discussion.
 
Uçak: "We must place production under cover to prevent the damage of climate change"
Hayrettin Uçak, himself a producer and Deputy Coordinator President of Aegean Exporters Associations and Chairman of the Aegean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association, stated that climate change is being felt more clearly nowadays, and emphasized that transitioning to covered production and the widespread adoption of agricultural insurance are necessities to prevent the agricultural sector from being affected by cold weather, frost and hail in March and April.

Describing how Turkey increased its agricultural product exports by 3.3 percent in 2024 to reach USD 36.2 billion, Uçak said, "Agricultural products accounted for 16 percent of our total exports. Our exporters from the Aegean region achieved USD 7.6 billion in agricultural product exports in 2024 with a 4 percent increase. The unit price per kilogram in our region's agricultural product exports was USD 2.23 in 2023, reaching USD 2.55 in 2024 with a 13 percent increase. Through the impact of technology, digitalization and innovation, we achieved higher value-added exports in 2024.

In 2024, as the Aegean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association, we implemented the "Third Generation Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Program" for the second time to attract young people to the agricultural sector. Eighty-two young people who were graduates or current students of food engineering and agricultural engineering received expertise from specialist names. In our program, prospective young farmers also conducted farm and orchard visits. We expect them to develop projects that will prevent food losses and increase overall quality and productivity. We believe they will greatly contribute to the research and development side of the agricultural sector," he said.
 
Creating residue maps and solving the pesticide problem
Explaining that they analyzed 600 samples in 2024 within the scope of the "We Know the Pesticides We Use Project" to create residue maps in production areas and solve the pesticide problem, Uçak continued as follows. "We believe improving production areas and taking the right step toward sustainable production and export, and we wish this project to be spread throughout the country. In addition to improving production, our international activities continued in 2024 to ensure our exports grow in a sustainable manner. The Aegean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association, which implements 21 percent of Turkey's fresh fruits and vegetables and processed fruits and vegetables exports, embarked with the Turkish Fresh and Processed Fruits and Vegetables Cluster UR-GE Project to cluster 41 companies and increase their export competencies in the fresh fruits and vegetables and processed fruits and vegetables sectors.

In this scope, the first marketing activity took place in the United Kingdom in 2024, and participating companies found the opportunity to meet new customers to expand their markets. Producers play a key role in all activities we conduct. With the support of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, our agricultural engineers, company experts, and our universities, the better quality production our producers make, the more productive our exports will be. On the occasion of 14 May World Farmers Day, I wish all our farmers to receive the reward for their hard work and enjoy bountiful harvests."
 
Işık: "We will succeed in food safety and sustainability thanks to our farmers"
Mehmet Ali Işık, Aegean Exporters Associations Sustainability and Organic Products Coordinator and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters Association, emphasized in a message released on the occasion of 14 May World Farmers Day that farmers' labor bears critical importance in terms of food safety, sustainability and economic development.

Chairman Işık stated, "The agricultural sector is a strategic area that shapes the future not only of our country, but of the entire world. Our farmers, the foundation stone of this structure, produce not only products but also the future as they work the land. Without their labor, sweat and knowledge, food supply security cannot be discussed."
 
Noting that as the Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters Association they have taken concrete steps over many years hand in hand with producers to increase production quality, Işık said, "We continue to distribute free nets, drying trays, biotechnical traps and similar materials to our farmers within our means. Besides this, through the training and awareness activities we conduct in the field, we promote sustainable agricultural practices. Through these efforts, we are building quality and safe product production together."
 
Işık also emphasized that the future of sustainable agriculture is based on knowledge-based production, stating, "Nowadays, success in agriculture is not only achieved by working the land; it is possible through accessing correct information, applying modern techniques and adopting a quality-focused production approach. When we act with this awareness, we will reach a stronger position in both the domestic market and exports." He used the following expressions.

Işık concluded his remarks as follows: "I celebrate 14 May World Farmers Day with heartfelt wishes for our farmers who value the land and build the future with their labor. As the Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters Association, we will continue to stand by our producers, produce together, and further elevate the power of Turkish agriculture in world markets."
 
Girit: "We are grateful to everyone working for the future of our food"
Bedri Girit, Chairman of the Aegean Aquaculture Products and Animal Products Exporters Association, who emphasized that Turkey is the world leader in pine honey, seabass and gilthead bream production, said, "We express our thanks to everyone throughout our country who carries out production year-round and brings healthy and safe food to our tables, and we celebrate 14 May World Farmers Day."

Saying "At the foundation of our Aquaculture Products and Animal Products sector are producers working with hard work, knowledge and dedication," Girit stated, "We reached an export volume of approximately USD 4 billion in 2024. Behind this success lies the great contribution of all our stakeholders working tirelessly day and night. Turkey ranks first in the world in pine honey production; it is second in total honey production. While ranking in the top 10 globally in egg production, it has the potential to push for second place after the Netherlands in exports. In poultry meat production, Turkey ranks among the top ten countries in the world.

In aquaculture farming we rank second in Europe and 16th globally. We are the world leader in seabass and gilthead bream production; in rainbow trout we rank second. In milk production we are 9th globally and 3rd in Europe. For sustainable production and export, we value the work in the field, support women, youth and methods respectful of nature. Climate change mitigation, water efficiency, low-carbon production and digitalization are among our priorities. We aim to increase both our producers' income and our global competitiveness with value-added products. I greet everyone who works with respect; I wish for a fruitful, resilient and sustainable production year," he said.
 
Öztürk: "In our USD 12 billion exports, there is the sweat of our farmers"
Muhammet Öztürk, Chairman of the Aegean Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds and Products Exporters Association, who shared that Turkey's overall cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products exports reached the USD 12 billion level in 2024, emphasized that at the foundation of this success lies the sweat of our farmers who continue to produce with patience and belief.
 
"World Farmers Day, celebrated every 14 May, is an expression of our gratitude to our producers who bring the land together with abundance and carry our country's food security on their shoulders," said Öztürk, "As in every field of agriculture, in the cereals, pulses, oilseeds and products sector, our farmer is the first link in production. Export is impossible without their labor. If agriculture and the food sector stop, life stops. Agriculture means food security. Those who provide our food security are hardworking and faithful farmers. For this reason, we must support our farmers," he said.

Expressing that they achieved strong export performance thanks to the dedicated work of farmers who ensure the continuity of production despite difficult climate conditions and rising input costs, Öztürk continued as follows: "As an association, we do not operate as an institution that only conducts activities aimed at increasing exports; we also act with an understanding that advocates sustainable production, prioritizes rural welfare, and recognizes the duty of fairly evaluating our farmer's labor. We see the support of our women producers, attracting young people to agriculture, and the widespread adoption of climate-friendly production models among our priorities.

On this meaningful day, starting from Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's saying 'The peasant is the master of the nation,' and with the wish that the fertility of the land contributes to production, and production to prosperity, I celebrate 14 May World Farmers Day for all our farmers—men, women, workers and producers at every stage of agricultural production, in fields, vineyards, orchards, greenhouses, stables, and pens—who work the land with a thousand efforts, add value to the products they obtain and present them to people, and work and labor for our country's development. I wish their products to be blessed."