Agriculture / Agricultural Trade Policy
 |
Turkey's
proximity to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa gives
it easy access to large markets through the Black Sea to the
north, the Aegean Sea to the west and the Mediterranean
Sea to the south.
Likewise, Turkey's internal market, which is characterised by
high rates of population growth and growing incomes, should also
experience rapid growth in demand for more food of higher
quality. |
Thus, agriculture
in Turkey holds the promise of making a major contribution to
Turkey's economic development. The principal objectives of the
Turkish agricultural policy are set out in successive five-year
development plans. These are to stabilize agricultural prices;
to provide adequate and stable incomes for those working in
agriculture; to meet the nutritional needs of growing population;
to increase yields and outputs; to reduce the vulnerability of
production to weather conditions; to develop rural areas; to
promote the application of modern agricultural techniques and to
develop the export potential of agriculture. As a result of the
latter, agricultural exports has expanded rapidly over the last
decade.
Since its initial
reform efforts in the early 1980's, Turkey has made significant
strides in opening up its borders to imports and reducing
controls on exports. Turkey has made moves to harmonize its
trade policies with those of the European Union and the European
Free Trade Association and has entered into new regional trading
arrangements.
As of January 1,
1996, date of the entry into force of the Customs Union with the
EU and Turkey has eliminated all custom duties and charges
having equivalent effect on imports of industrial products from
the EU. The Custom Union initially covers only processed
agricultural products containing cereals, sugar and milk along
with industrial products. Free circulation of traditional
agricultural products between Turkey and the EU will become
possible to the extent that Turkey approximate its agricultural
policy to the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU.
The table below
shows export trends in selected agricultural and food industry
products.
Trends in
Selected Agricultural and Food Products Exports
( million US $ )
|
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
|
Pulses
|
200
|
185
|
167
|
198
|
269
|
255
|
197
|
134
|
|
Citrus Fruits
|
112
|
112
|
157
|
153
|
158
|
114
|
158
|
251
|
|
Sultanas
|
129
|
134
|
176
|
190
|
188
|
206
|
212
|
203
|
|
Hazelnuts
|
292
|
413
|
509
|
770
|
608
|
872
|
833
|
669
|
|
Wheat
|
341
|
76
|
89
|
23
|
2
|
4
|
163
|
191
|
|
Other cereals
|
75
|
35
|
63
|
51
|
84
|
74
|
124
|
34
|
|
Wheat flour
|
92
|
75
|
99
|
138
|
167
|
254
|
90
|
40
|
|
Tobacco |
309
|
396
|
404
|
343
|
543
|
531
|
534
|
493
|
|
Cotton-raw |
44
|
142
|
31
|
6
|
124
|
57
|
55
|
87
|
|
Pasta |
18
|
24
|
37
|
53
|
58
|
70
|
45
|
10
|
|
Biscuits
|
44
|
58
|
77
|
164
|
220
|
201
|
123
|
76
|
|
Olive oil
|
18
|
12
|
20
|
120
|
75
|
87
|
75
|
170
|
|
Frozen fruits
& vegetables. |
34
|
32
|
61
|
43
|
54
|
59
|
62
|
52
|
|
Sugar conf.,
chocolate and chocolate products
|
61
|
98
|
191
|
266
|
282
|
280
|
206
|
151
|
|
Dehydrated
Vegetables
|
12
|
11
|
15
|
25
|
26
|
19
|
16
|
17
|
|
Fruit Juices &
Concentrates |
36
|
25
|
37
|
67
|
84
|
55
|
63
|
70
|
|
Tomato
products
|
106
|
90
|
110
|
102
|
136
|
134
|
140
|
131
|
|
Total of the
list
|
2071
|
2219
|
2499
|
2852
|
3177
|
3364
|
3158
|
2779
|
|
Total of
the first 24 (HS) Chapters |
3425
|
3537
|
4056
|
4354
|
4640
|
5227
|
4779
|
4173 |
Agricultural
potential has not been fully realized nationwide. Despite
agriculture's diminished role in Turkish economy, agriculture
still accounts for a large share of total output and employment.
