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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.
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