Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı met with members of the press, including Milliyet.com.tr Editor-in-Chief Uğur Kurban, at a meeting in Istanbul and answered journalists' questions.
“WE ACTIVELY USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN FOREST FIRES”
The highlights of Minister Yumaklı's statements are as follows: We use all the possibilities of technology in the fight against forest fires. With the artificial intelligence-based Decision Support System, we predict the course of the fire and take precautions accordingly. With this system, we see risky areas 1 week in advance and ensure direction and coordination of our teams. Here, we integrate existing systems with developing technology and are in constant development. In summary, we actively use both artificial intelligence and other technological developments in forest fires.
“AFFORESTATION WORKS ARE CARRIED OUT IN THE LIGHT OF SCIENTIFIC DATA”
Regarding the reforestation of the region after forest fires, sometimes recommendations are made to continue with different tree species. However, at the end of 2023, we held a workshop with experts on this subject. This workshop yielded results supporting the accuracy of our methodology. We take the ecosystem of the region into consideration when reforesting burned forest areas. The tree species in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, the tree species in the Aegean and the Central Anatolia, or the tree species in the south are different from each other. We also plant trees according to the ecosystem of the region. All these afforestation efforts are carried out in the light of scientific data. You cannot change an ecosystem that is millions of years old. This was made in Germany for a while. But then they encountered many biological problems and gave up. Don't just look at it as a tree. There is an ecosystem there that has come with it over millions of years. The majority of fires start in non-forest areas. Therefore, the tree is not at fault. The cones of Red Pine trees close themselves during fire and store their seeds. After the fire, when the environment is suitable, it blooms and sheds its seeds on the soil. We, as humans, are trying to change that systematic. This is not possible.
“WE GO TO THE VILLAGES AND RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS ONE BY ONE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS”
We are carrying out a very serious awareness-raising activity to reduce forest fires. With both our Ministry of National Education and our Higher Education Institution. In addition, we go to villages and rural neighborhoods that are sensitive to forest fires, one by one. Our teams are carrying out informational activities here. We say this: If a fire breaks out here during that risky season and 100-year-old trees burn, there will be no one left in this village to see those trees become the same again. Secondly, when a fire breaks out, if you do not want us to come to that fire to fight for the flames, but if you want us to drink tea and coffee, let's be together. Especially recently, we have started to provide water tankers to forest villages so that they can intervene in emergency situations until we arrive. We also provided training. This is also a very important point.
PENALTIES APPLIED TO THOSE WHO SET INTENTIONAL FOREST FIRES
3 percent of the causes of forest fires are intentional. We do not detect these. Law enforcement detects it. We extract it from their reports. He torpedoed Kahramanmaraş. Why are you firing torpedoes in the forest? This is not an accident, it is intentional. Their punishment is really heavy. We are reimbursing the financial amount spent in the response to that forest fire to those who started that fire. And our legal unit is following him to the end to ensure that he is punished.
CARBON SINK FORESTS
Essentially all forests sequester carbon. However, in the carbon sink forests we will create, we are talking about forest areas that increase their carbon retention capacity, depending on the tree type, whether the saplings planted there are coniferous or leafy, or through maintenance interventions to be made in that forest. While creating these areas, afforestation activities that will cause carbon emissions and also release carbon into the atmosphere should be avoided. While reducing the amount of carbon emitted, we will continue to work to zero emissions by creating new carbon sink areas and to reach the 2053 net emission target.
USE OF UAVS IN FOREST FIRES
We are working together with our defense industry. The issue of using unmanned aerial vehicles in forest fires. We currently use it for detection, but what I mean is for direct intervention. It doesn't exist in this world yet. We see some practices originating from China, but forest fires occur in difficult geographies. Those applications are in more straightforward and easily accessible places. Can we really create unmanned water-throwing vehicles that are as effective as our aircraft? We started this work with our Defense Industry. Hopefully, with their experience, it won't take too long and we will have created something in the world that will also provide economic benefits for Türkiye.
By the way, I would like to thank BAYKAR for the UAVs we currently use for detection. We also use this technology with Bayraktar TB2s. They still support us in the technical aspects of the work. They are there for us when we are in any difficult situation and they adapt to us any issue they have developed themselves.
“HOBBY GARDENS ARE A ZONING PROBLEM”
The issue of hobby gardens is a sensitive issue. This is actually a zoning problem. No one has any objections to permitted buildings in the agricultural area. However, as I said, this zoning issue is not my topic. We passed a law in our Parliament to prevent agricultural lands from being damaged in any way by illegal construction. There was an interruption after this change in law. Now, a group called those who are stuck with the zoning law has formed here. And they are the ones who keep it on the agenda. In this country, everyone has to obey the rules. Therefore, whatever happens will happen to those who do not comply.
AMENDMENT IN THE STATE LAW
As the ministry, we were also involved in the work on the state law. All of these were already discussed in the food committee. Issues such as the increased presence of producer unions and cooperatives in markets and markets, and even the ability of producer unions to establish product sales points outside of markets. Currently, they have completed their latest work in the AK Party group. I think it will come to the commission. There are other different topics as well. For example, a system that allows large sales points to purchase up to a certain amount directly from the manufacturer. It will include practices that will remove intermediaries and encourage faster, contracted production. We will all see the final version together. The faster you can bring the product from the field to the end consumer, the lower the costs will be. Currently, most of the costs come from transportation anyway. The increase in oil prices is also a factor in this.
“TMO BUYS ALL HAZELNUTS THAT MEET THE SPECIFIED CRITERIA AT THE ANNOUNCED PRICE”
Soil Products Office has announced the purchase price and is purchasing all hazelnuts that meet the criteria set. The fact that it is cheaper in the market is a matter of quality. TMO continues to buy at the announced price.
“OUR FOOD SAFETY RED LINE”
Food safety has always been our red line. There is no compromise on this issue. We all have children. It cannot be considered reasonable for anyone to sell the product they offer to you in a way different from what they stated. No one has the right to do such a thing. This is misunderstood; Why are you revealing it? Just do what's necessary. We are doing what is necessary. Then we reveal it. We are punishing him. We are having your product withdrawn. Whatever punishment corresponds to the crime. After that, we reveal them instantly. That's actually the biggest punishment. We are as determined as the day we started. I don't even care who it is. I accept this. Building a brand is not easy. It is not easy to hold on to the market. You spend labor and capital, but the imitation and adulteration you make as a result is not the consumer's problem at all. Everyone has to produce and present their product to people as promised. There is nothing to discuss about this.
“I SHOWED THE STATISTICS TO THE EU COMMISSIONER ON PESTICIDE”
We recently met with Christophe Hansen, the EU Commission member responsible for Agriculture and Food. Pesticide residues were also brought up there. Our decrease in RASFF notifications in the last 3 years is 74 percent. We are carrying out biological and biotechnical warfare. We will share our practices on this subject with them. There was a perception in their minds that pesticides were used extensively in Türkiye. However, the pesticide rate used per hectare in the European Union is 3.2 kilograms, while in Türkiye it is 2.3 kilograms. As a result, we agreed to further develop our cooperation on this issue. I personally describe the high perception of pesticide use in our society as a very positive and good situation. I think it should be this way. We are working to minimize this sensitivity.
“CLIMATE CHANGE HAS A GREAT EFFECT ON PESTS”
Another effect of climate change is that pests have begun to emerge, very interesting pests. For example, two years ago, a pest called gall wasp appeared on chestnut trees in the Black Sea Region. It destroyed all the chestnut trees. But friends also worked on an anti-bug that does not harm forests. When we go to those regions, we see that the results have been achieved and everyone is satisfied. We need to be able to apply not only the disposal of pesticides, but also the methodology of combating nature itself. Which farmer would want to plant his crop for 3 months, 5 months, 8 months, 10 months, use pesticides to combat the pest, and then take it to the market, only to have it detected in his garden, at the packaging area, or at the market, and thrown away or damaged? Who would want this? There is a methodology problem here. My friends really look at each of these with the meticulousness of a jeweler.
EXCESS SUPPLY OF FRUIT AND OBSTACLES TO ITS EXPORT
With production planning, we have initiated a structural transformation in an area that is extremely important in terms of food supply security, such as agriculture, against all cyclical challenges in the world, against storms, starting from 2023. With this regulation, we banned the planting of perennial plants, namely fruit trees, in places with a slope below 6% in 2023. In addition, we put production planning into action, starting with strategic products. We strive to extend it to all products. This is not something that will happen immediately, we know. But I want to say that structural change is extremely important.
On the other hand, regarding fruit exports, the navigation problem in the Black Sea is unfortunately one of our biggest problems at the moment. Exporters are experiencing difficulties due to the inability to export products and the lack of navigation security. We are working together with our Ministry of Commerce on how we can make their work easier. Hopefully, he will step in and alleviate the problem. This year, fortunately, we have achieved really good harvest data for all products. However, when you cannot sell your product, this has a lot of backward complications. For this reason, I hold one-on-one meetings with all countries. For example, we went to Russia. When the Black Sea was closed, products began to be sent to Russia by trucks. But when we went, they blocked the passage of our products due to some problems at customs. But we met, we agreed, we shook hands. They opened customs before we even left. Then we agreed with them on another issue. They were taking one out of every two of our trucks for analysis. This was causing accumulations. It was causing problems with the products. We reduced the frequency of analysis to 20% for certain groups of products and 10% for certain groups of products. We work individually for each country. In this sense, we are carrying out a very intense agricultural diplomacy process.
“WE RECEIVED RAINFALL 30 PERCENT ABOVE AVERAGE THIS YEAR AND 76 PERCENT ABOVE LAST YEAR”
In the last water year, we received the most rainfall in the last 66 years. We were going through drought in 2025. This is the most important impact of climate change. It will continue further. What we will do is; How can we prevent floods? We will produce drought-compatible seeds for food supply security. The average rainfall across Türkiye from October 1 to September 30, 2025 was 741.6 mm. The long-term average of this amount is 573.4. 30% above that. It increased by 76% compared to last year. Conversely, there was 76% less rainfall last year. We have a Flood Prevention System regarding floods. By measuring water flow rates 72 hours in advance, warnings are made before arriving there. Indeed, climate change will present many things, known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, from now on.
INCREASED EFFICIENCY IN LIVESTOCK
We are implementing all the headings in the Livestock Road Map that we announced in February 2024, one by one. After all this, there has been an increase in the number of our animals, but we are focusing on quality rather than quantity and focusing on herd renewal. There are two animals, you feed more or less the same for both of them. You get more out of one, less out of the other. It's not something that can happen overnight. However, I can say that we have received its effects in animal husbandry.
FIGHT AGAINST ANIMAL DISEASES
The European Union Commissioner congratulated our success in the fight against animal diseases in 2025 regarding foot and mouth. This country overcame that serious case within 4 months. This happened because of their abilities. We strive to prevent a new one. We have serious efforts on animal diseases.
WE STARTED A SCAN ON BREED FARMS
We started a survey throughout Türkiye regarding Aryan farms. It means farms that have taken all their precautions regarding diseases and followed the rules. We say that we have facilitated the conditions regarding purity, but we will not have any tolerance here. But you must follow its rules, we have canceled the purity of all those who do not comply. Because I support him four times as much. To ensure purity and prevent animal diseases.
