ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MODEL TO BE DEVELOPED IN TURKISH AGRICULTURE...

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mehmet Hadi Tunç stated that digitalization in agriculture will be developed by artificial intelligence (AI) and data-based business models in 2019-2023 period...

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the International Malatya Culture and Art Events and Apricot Festival held at the Mişmiş Park Fairground, Tunç said that the 11th Development Plan on the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly covers the years of 2019-2023.

Pointing out that three sectors were identified as the priority development area in this plan, Tunç continued as follows:

"These are defense industry, agriculture and tourism sector. As you can see agriculture in our country perhaps even more important defense industry than it is determined. Improving agriculture and producers' income is among our priorities. Agriculture is both an economic and social sector for us. We are approaching strategically to this issue as a country. We will continue to make the necessary efforts in this regard. Turkey makes its plans according to feed 82 million of the population, 42 million tourists and the refugees of over 4 million."



Dynamic structure will be created...

Tunç explained that they have done the necessary works to provide healthy and sufficient food to the citizens and that they also support the farmers.

"Within the scope of these studies, we increased the amount of agricultural support to 16.1 billion liras in 2019. In the coming period, we will increase these supports and use them for the protection of the producers from the risks and development of the sector. Thanks to these supports and the efforts of the producers, our total crop production is increased from 98 million tons to 117 million tons. We increased the number of cattle from 9.9 million to 17.2 million. We raised the number of small ruminants from 32 million to 46.1 million. Though tis is not enough for us."

Tunç reminded that 50 thousand families made a living from apricots in Malatya and that 255 million dollars income was obtained from dried apricots in 2018, and that apricots were the third product they received a 'geographical sign' by the European Union after Aydın figs and Gaziantep baklava.

Providing information about the 2023 targets of the Ministry, "Digitalization in agriculture in 2019-2023 period, artificial intelligence and data-based business models will be developed. Agricultural support will be increased. Policies that takes into consideration of water constraint along with farmer's cost and income, supply and demand-oriented dynamic structure will be created" Tunç concluded.