Agricultural association warns of potential grain production loss due to drought in Turkey

ISTANBUL

DHA photo

Turkey is facing a huge loss in grain production in November and December after one of its most arid seasons for agricultural production in recent years, Agriculturalists Association of Turkey (TZOB) President Şemsi Bayraktar has stated.

“October was one of the most arid beginnings for agricultural production in recent years. Rainfall dropped in October by 58.3 percent compared to the yearly average and 75.3 percent compared to the same month of 2015. The rain volume dropped to 20.5 mm in October from around 83 mm last year,” said Bayraktar in a statement on Nov. 9. 

Rainfall in Turkey’s Mediterranean region fell by 90.6 percent in October compared to last year, while in the Central Anatolia region it fell 89 percent, in the Aegean region it fell 85.6 percent, in the Southeast Anatolia region it fell 67.6 percent, in the Marmara region it fell 58.4 percent and in the East Anatolia region it fell 49 percent, according to the statement. Only the Black Sea region saw a rise in rainfall, which was around 86 percent higher than the yearly average in October.

“Weather conditions in November and afterward will be of great importance. If it rains at seasonal averages, we will not face a drought. We will, however, see huge yield losses in our grain production if it does not rain more in November and December,” added Bayraktar.