Minister Yumaklı: "We have the most equipped, best fleet in history"

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı said, "We have reached the highest rainfall in the last 66 years. The active fullness ratio of all our dams is currently 81.5%. This is a record."

The Great Art Foundation, Erciyes University, Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, and the Central Anatolia Development Agency (ORAN) organized the Erciyes Summit themed "Climate, Water, Food, and Security" at the Sabancı Cultural Center.

Minister Yumaklı said in his speech here that Kayseri, located in the heart of Anatolia with its rich culture and nature, hosted an important meeting.

Yumaklı expressed his wish for the Erciyes Summit to create a model that will provide remedies to the world's problems and deliver the right messages to decision-makers, saying it was impossible to separate the issues of climate, water, food, and security from each other.

Minister Yumaklı stated that they are making efforts and exerting energy to make agricultural production, which guarantees food security, resilient to risks; for this purpose, they started production planning in Turkey as of September 2024 by centering water and determining the product pattern.

"AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 7.3 MILLION HECTARES IS NOW IRRIGATED"

Thanking the agricultural producers and stakeholders for their support, Yumaklı said that taking important steps to change product patterns and acting by putting water at the center is not easy.

Yumaklı stated that nearly 11 thousand water and irrigation facilities have been built in Turkey in 23 years and said, "60% of all constructions in the history of the Republic have been realized in the last 23 years. Approximately 7.3 million hectares in our country are now irrigated. What does this mean? You get more, productive, and quality products. In this sense, we have given importance to irrigation matters to be less negatively affected by the consequences of climatic effects."

Pointing out that this year’s rainfall is higher compared to previous years, Minister Yumaklı continued:

"The rainfall in 2026 exceeds the long-year average by 32.5%. It is 75.7% above last year. From here, we can see the massive difference of the abnormal drought we experienced last year. We have reached the highest rainfall in the last 66 years. The active fullness ratio of all our dams is currently 81.5%. This is a record. I want to say this. We currently have 26 billion cubic meters more water stored in our dams. Due to drought last year, some of our cities experienced problems in drinking water reserves, but thankfully they have started to recover this year. They have largely recovered. Frankly, I do not think our provinces in Turkey will face any problems regarding drinking water."

Minister Yumaklı noted that only 38.5% of the irrigation systems in Turkey are closed circuit, and they will increase this number to 45% by 2028.

Yumaklı said that they refund up to 70% of the expenses to farmers who use drip irrigation and other modern irrigation systems and stated that they cooperate on many issues with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.

Yumaklı said that they are carrying out projects related to the use of wastewater in agricultural production in a way that does not create problems.

Describing a worldwide mobilization in water efficiency as in zero waste led by Emine Erdoğan, wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Yumaklı said, "Currently, we, as a country, are ready for water efficiency, which is one of the most important topics of COP31. We will continue working on the water efficiency mobilization without any loosening or concessions."

"WE HAVE THE MOST EQUIPPED, BEST FLEET IN HISTORY"

Minister Yumaklı drew attention to the fact that 91% of last year's forest fires were human-induced, emphasizing that a risky period has begun and that caution and precautionary measures must be taken.

Providing information that the General Directorate of Forestry is ready for the risky period with 28 thousand personnel and 138 thousand volunteers, Yumaklı said, "We have a strong fleet. I want to state this. Currently, with 28 aircraft, 119 helicopters, and 14 unmanned aerial vehicles, we have the most equipped and best fleet in history."

Yumaklı talked about the vehicles and buildings in the inventory of the General Directorate of Forestry, noting that a world record was broken on November 11 National Afforestation Day.

Yumaklı said they have a lot to tell the world and expressed that Turkey's preparations for COP31 have reached a high level with the efforts of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum.

Minister Yumaklı added that Turkey is an important agricultural country with fertile lands and hardworking producers and that this year they have allocated 20% of rural development supports to young and women entrepreneurs.