Natural disasters damage farmland across Türkiye in the first half of 2026
According to the Union of Turkish Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), nearly 90,000 hectares of agricultural land were damaged by natural disasters in the first six months of 2026.
In the first half of 2026, the agricultural sector in Türkiye faced significant destruction due to a series of natural disasters. Semsi Bayraktar, chairman of the Union of Turkish Agricultural Chambers (TZOB), reported that approximately 90,000 hectares of farmland were affected across the country. The period from January to June saw a wide range of weather-related incidents that severely impacted production and threatened the livelihoods of local farmers.
Disasters included floods, excessive rainfall, hailstorms, storms, frost, heavy snowfall, tornadoes, and landslides. The scale of the impact was widespread: floods occurred in 28 provinces, frost in 22, and excessive rainfall and hail each affected 14 provinces. Additionally, storms and heavy snowfall were recorded in nine provinces, while landslides and tornadoes each hit six provinces throughout the first half of the year.
Bayraktar emphasized that the increasing intensity of these disasters places immense pressure on agricultural production. The damage extends beyond just crop losses; producers lose all the capital invested throughout the season, including expenditures on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, and labor. Following 2025, which was labeled a "year of disasters" for the agricultural sector, the adverse trend has continued into 2026.
Despite the recurring nature of these events, agricultural insurance coverage among farmers remains low. Bayraktar noted that while there is state support, insurance premiums are still relatively high compared to the incomes of many producers, which acts as a deterrent. He stressed the importance of improving access to insurance as the only viable way to manage the financial risks associated with climate volatility.
Furthermore, Bayraktar pointed to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which highlights a significant global increase in the severity of such disasters. The average annual damage to the global agricultural sector caused by natural disasters rose from $64 billion in the 1990s to $144 billion in recent years. This trend underscores the growing vulnerability of agriculture both in Türkiye and across the globe in the face of worsening climate conditions.