Turkey Allocates ₺1.7 Billion More in Frost Aid to Uninsured Farmers

Turkey’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı announced that the government will transfer an additional ₺1.723 billion to farmers affected by agricultural frost, extending previous rounds of compensation payments. The support targets producers who lack agricultural insurance but are registered in the Farmer Registration System (ÇKS).

Continued Support for Frost-Affected Farmers

In a post shared via his official social media account, Minister Yumaklı emphasized the ministry’s commitment to assisting producers hit by harsh weather conditions. He confirmed that the new payment would serve as a continuation of earlier aid disbursements.

“We are transferring another ₺1,723,575,000 to producers affected by agricultural frost who do not have crop insurance but are registered in the ÇKS,” Yumaklı stated. “With this latest payment, the total amount of frost-related financial support delivered to our farmers has reached ₺22,148,000,000. We will continue to provide assistance under the frost compensation program,” he added.

Part of a Broader Rural Recovery Effort

The additional funding represents part of Turkey’s ongoing effort to stabilize rural livelihoods following a series of climate-related challenges, including unexpected frosts and drought conditions that have disrupted agricultural output across multiple regions.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has launched several targeted programs to help farmers recover from natural disasters, prioritizing those without agricultural insurance coverage but officially recognized in national registries.

Yumaklı has previously underscored the government’s goal of ensuring that no registered producer is left unsupported, especially as unpredictable weather patterns continue to threaten harvests. The ministry’s financial interventions aim not only to compensate for immediate losses but also to encourage long-term resilience through registration and compliance with agricultural data systems such as the ÇKS.

Agricultural Insurance and Risk Management

Experts note that Turkey’s approach to agricultural compensation has increasingly tied aid to participation in formal registration systems, aligning with the government’s broader digital transformation of rural policy. While insured farmers receive payouts under TARSİM, the state-backed agricultural insurance program, the frost compensation scheme provides a safety net for those without coverage but who remain within the formal system.

This dual mechanism — insurance for covered farmers and direct compensation for registered but uninsured producers — reflects an evolving balance between risk management and social protection in the agricultural sector.

Strengthening Rural Economies Amid Climate Stress

The ₺22.1 billion total disbursed under the frost aid initiative underscores the scale of government intervention in protecting Turkey’s agricultural base. Frost damage has hit key crop regions in recent years, affecting fruit, nut, and vegetable yields — particularly in provinces reliant on export-oriented production.

By maintaining consistent payments, the Ministry aims to ensure liquidity and prevent rural economic disruption, a vital step as Turkey works to safeguard food supply chains and support small-scale farmers against climate-driven volatility.