A new era begins in agriculture! Minister Yumaklı announced Türkiye's climate road map: We want to manage risks, not crises
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı made evaluations on the effects of climate change on agricultural production and food supply security within the scope of the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) held in Antalya.
Minister Yumaklı, who was a guest on A Haber, stated that COP31 will give important messages from Türkiye to the world and stated that the field of agriculture and food is one of the prominent agenda items of the summit.
Pointing out that extraordinary weather events are occurring more and more frequently in agricultural production due to climate change, Yumaklı said, "We are now experiencing very extraordinary climate events that we all accept as normal and the new normal." he said.
Noting that within the scope of COP31, how climate change affects agricultural production and food supply security was discussed, Yumaklı emphasized the importance of developing a common understanding and action plan at the international level.
"FIRST DIALOGUE, THEN CONSENSUS AND ACTION"
Making evaluations about the approach of COP31, Minister Yumaklı said, "Here, first of all, dialogue, then consensus, then action." he said.
Stating that not only drought but also excessive rainfall, floods and overflows have caused serious damage to agricultural lands recently, Yumaklı said that these problems affect not only Türkiye but also many parts of the world. Stating that a holistic approach should be adopted in combating the effects of climate change on agricultural production, Yumaklı stated that, as the Ministry, they will continue their work with 46 events within the scope of COP31.
"WE WANT TO MANAGE THE RISKS, NOT THE CLIMATE CRISIS"
Stating that risk management is the basis of the approach followed in the fight against climate change, Yumaklı said, "We do not want to manage the crisis in climate change. We want to manage the risk." he said.
In this regard, Yumaklı stated that risks that could affect food supply security have been identified and that efforts are continuing to implement the necessary measures and actions against the identified risks.
WATER RESOURCES WILL BE PRIORITY IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Emphasizing that water is at the center of the measures to be taken against climate change, Yumaklı pointed out that clean water resources will become even more important in terms of agricultural production in the coming period.
Stating that water is an indispensable resource for the continuation of life and agricultural production, Yumaklı stated that the protection of water resources is among the priority issues of the next period.
R&D WORKS CONTINUE FOR DROUGHT-RESISTANT SEEDS
Yumaklı also touched upon the importance of rural development in terms of food supply security and stated that cooperation with international organizations continues. Stating that joint studies are carried out with various organizations, especially IFAD, IPARD and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Yumaklı said that supporting women farmers and keeping young people in agricultural production are among the priority issues.
Emphasizing that rural areas have strategic importance not only in terms of economic development but also in terms of sustainability of food supply security, Yumaklı stated that they are working to make the production infrastructure more resistant to climate change.
Drawing attention to seed development studies, Yumaklı stated that varieties resistant to drought and extreme temperature changes should be introduced into agricultural production, and noted that R&D activities are continuing in this field.
Yumaklı added that preparations against the risks posed by climate change continue with production planning, rural development, increasing resilience and international cooperation.
