DURUM WHEAT PRODUCTION INCREASED, POTATO AND ONION STOCKS SUFFICIENT...

While the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has analyzed products such as wheat, onion and potatoes where the demand has increased due to the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19), wheat cultivation, especially pasta, has increased by 10 percent, onion and potatoes in stock are sufficient to the new product period.

Durum wheat production increased, potato and onion stocks sufficient...

According to the analysis conducted through field visits across the country by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Plant Production, 68.5 million decares of wheat were planted in the country last year.

This year, according to the first evaluations, an increase in durum wheat in the Southeastern Region, from wheat bread to barley in the Eastern Anatolia Region and an increase in durum wheat in the Central Anatolia Region are expected. Grain development reached the desired level as the rains and temperatures at the end of last year were above seasonal norms.

Total wheat cultivation increased around 5-10 percent, mainly with durum wheat throughout the country. It was determined that this increase was mostly in watery areas and there was no problem in plant development with irrigation in these area, and an increase in yield and production is expected. In dry farming areas, it was observed that there was a tendency from wheat to barley and legumes. Due to the fact that the outflows are late in the regions with low precipitation and the development is still in the tillering stage, so predicted that the product will be produced in small quantities but high in weight and high quality. Months of April and May rains keep their importance on grain development and yield.

Thus, the production of durum wheat and the amount of planting area in Turkey will also increase, due to the country's growing demand for food because of Covid-19 were assessed as having the capacity to meet. The increase in production is expected to reflect on pasta exports.

On the other hand it is estimated that the amount of 4.98 million tonnes produced in potatoes in 2019 will be sufficient for the country's need until May.