Turkey’s Harvest Shrinks in 2025: From Wheat to Fruit, Production Slides Across the Board

Turkey’s agricultural sector faced a challenging year in 2025, with new official data pointing to a broad-based contraction in plant production. According to the latest statistics published by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, overall output declined sharply in several key categories, underlining growing structural and climatic pressures on farming.

At the most general level, cereals and other plant-based crops (excluding forage crops) fell by 9 percent compared to the previous year. Vegetable production recorded a more modest decline of 0.9 percent, while fruit, beverage, and spice crops saw an eye-catching collapse of 30.9 percent. These figures highlight how uneven but widespread the downturn has been, affecting staples, fresh produce, and high-value crops alike.

In absolute terms, total production volumes reflect this contraction. Cereals and other plant products dropped to 68.1 million tons, vegetables to 33.3 million tons, and fruit, beverage, and spice plants to roughly 19.6 million tons. Behind these aggregate numbers lies a more dramatic story of losses in individual crops that form the backbone of Turkey’s food supply and export potential.

Heavy Losses in Grain Production

Grain output suffered one of the steepest declines in 2025. Overall cereal production fell by 12.3 percent, sliding to 34.2 million tons. Wheat, the cornerstone of Turkey’s agricultural system and a key input for bread and flour exports, declined by 13.7 percent to 17.9 million tons. Barley production was hit even harder, plunging by 25.9 percent to just 6 million tons.

Other cereals followed a similar downward trend. Rye production fell by 20.9 percent to around 203,000 tons, while oats dropped by 26.3 percent to approximately 288,000 tons. The sole exception among major grains was corn, which increased by 4.9 percent to reach 8.5 million tons, offering limited relief in an otherwise grim picture.

Pulses and industrial crops also reflected mixed but generally negative dynamics. Chickpea production stood at about 413,000 tons, dry beans at 247,000 tons, and red lentils at 250,000 tons. Potato output declined by 7.2 percent to 6.4 million tons, reinforcing concerns over staple food availability and price stability.

Oilseeds saw notable contractions as well. Soybean production dropped by 17.4 percent to 149,000 tons, while sunflower production fell by 11.8 percent to 1.9 million tons. Sugar beet output slipped by 2 percent, ending the year at 22 million tons.

Vegetable Output Holds Up, But Only Just

Compared to grains and fruit, vegetables proved relatively resilient, though still unable to escape decline. Total vegetable production edged down by 0.9 percent in 2025, settling at 33.3 million tons. Within this category, however, performance varied significantly by crop.

Watermelon production rose by 6.7 percent, dry onion by 9.8 percent, and pointed green pepper by 1.8 percent. These increases helped cushion the overall fall. Yet major vegetables such as tomatoes, a flagship product for both domestic consumption and exports, declined by 7.6 percent. Capsicum peppers used in processing fell by 4.7 percent, while cucumber production slipped by 2 percent.

Fruit Production Sees a Dramatic Collapse

The most striking figures emerged from fruit production, which contracted sharply in 2025. Total fruit output fell by 30.9 percent to 19.6 million tons, reflecting widespread losses across nearly all wide varieties.

Apple production dropped by 48.3 percent, peaches by 46.1 percent, nectarines by 44.1 percent, and cherries by a staggering 70.6 percent. Grapes declined by 27.5 percent, while pomegranate production fell by 10.2 percent. Among citrus fruits, mandarin production increased by 5.8 percent, but this was outweighed by declines in oranges (17.5 percent) and lemons (34.4 percent).

Hard-shelled fruits were also severely affected. Hazelnut production dropped by 38.5 percent, walnuts by 38.2 percent, and pistachios by 61.5 percent. Banana production slipped slightly by 1.2 percent, while olive output fell by 34.7 percent, a particularly significant loss given olives’ central role in Turkey’s agricultural economy.

Ornamental Plants Also Affected

The downturn extended even to ornamental plants. Overall production in this category declined by 1.4 percent. Cut flower production fell by 5.8 percent, although other ornamental plants showed an increase of 8.7 percent, suggesting some pockets of resilience amid broader weakness.

Taken together, the 2025 data paints a clear picture of a sector under strain. From cereals and vegetables to fruit and ornamental plants, Turkey’s agricultural production faced widespread setbacks, raising questions about food security, farmer incomes, and the long-term sustainability of current production patterns.