PAKDEMİRLİ: WE WILL SUBSIDIZE 75 PERCENT OF SEEDS IN 21 AGRICULTURAL PROVINCES
Turkey’s agriculture minister announced Monday that the ministry will subsidize 75% of seeds for farmers in 21 agricultural provinces across the country in an effort to prevent disruptions or delays during spring planting season amid the coronavirus outbreak. Minister Bekir Pakdemirli said that the ministry conducted studies in designated provinces about the potential for increasing areas for planting to ensure food security during the crisis. He added that 75% of the seeds needed for the additional planting will be subsidized by the ministry as a promotional incentive and only a quarter of the costs will be covered by farmers. Pakdemirli said the support program aims to increase yields in strategic products such as legumes, cereal and oilseed crops and guide farmers to use plantations more efficiently during the planting season. The ministry started to distribute seeds of wheat, barley, beans, lentils, corn, sunflowers and rice, which were considered priority products in terms of e...