06.04.2026 17:41
Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay shared the agricultural projects and supports implemented by the Metropolitan Municipality with the public at a press conference. Stating that Konya is not just a city that produces, but also a capital of agriculture that plans, manages, develops, and promotes agriculture to the world, Mayor Altay said, "I wish our farmers a fruitful year. God willing, we will continue to carry the fertile lands of Konya to stronger tomorrows together."
The Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Uğur İbrahim Altay, held a press conference regarding the agricultural projects and supports implemented by the Metropolitan Municipality.
Speaking at the press conference held at the Cultural Arts Building of the Metropolitan Municipality, Mayor Altay reminded that the rapid increase in the world population is increasing the need for food every day, stating, “Production approaches that consume natural resources, degrade the soil, and use water carelessly make agriculture and life unsustainable in the long run. Therefore, we must take more conscious, planned, and responsible steps in agriculture from now on.”
“EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION IS ONLY POSSIBLE WITH PLANNED AND CONSCIOUS STEPS”
Mayor Altay stated that Konya's thousands of years of agricultural accumulation since Çatalhöyük is based on a conscious production understanding, saying, “In line with our vision of the Konya Model Municipality, as the Metropolitan Municipality, we are pursuing an agricultural policy that supports drought-resistant products and organic production, strengthens local producers, brings idle lands into production, and is based on the efficient use of water resources. Because efficient and sustainable production is only possible with planned and conscious steps. These fertile lands, known as the granary of Anatolia, have become one of the important production centers contributing to not only our country's but also the world's food security. Agriculture in these lands is not only an economic activity but also a civilization accumulation,” he expressed.
“KONYA IS THE AGRICULTURAL CAPITAL OF TURKEY”
Stating that Konya is the agricultural capital of Turkey in terms of agricultural production value, agricultural trade, and agricultural employment, Mayor Altay noted:
“With its vast agricultural lands, productive production basins, and developed agricultural industrial infrastructure, Konya is one of the centers that determine our country's production power. As the President of the AgriCities International Union of Agricultural Cities, we act with the awareness that agriculture is an issue that needs to be addressed globally starting from the local level. We aim to carry the accumulation of our Konya in this field to international platforms and to make our city a brand city both in our country and in the world.”
“IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROTECT AGRICULTURE WITHOUT PROTECTING WATER”
Mayor Altay emphasized the importance of education in sustainable agricultural practices, stating, “Because knowledge in agricultural production is the most fundamental element that reduces costs and increases productivity. In this context, we have implemented training programs for our producers in many areas, from field and garden plants to livestock, from beekeeping to modern irrigation techniques. In our trainings, we particularly focus on combating drought, water conservation, and modern irrigation methods. Because it is not possible to protect agriculture without protecting water. With this awareness, we act together with our producers with the same sense of responsibility,” he said.
DETAILED EXPLANATION OF KONYA MODEL AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Continuing his speech, Mayor Altay talked about the agricultural activities carried out with the understanding of the “Konya Model Municipality”; sharing information on many topics from the education and technical support provided to farmers, to the support for saplings, seedlings, and seeds, to the support for agricultural cooperatives, to R&D studies, agricultural irrigation, agricultural facilities, and infrastructure investments, to livestock support, and to the inclusion of idle lands into production, as well as agricultural activities carried out for youth, women, and disadvantaged groups.
23 MILLION 226 THOUSAND SEEDLING AND SAPLING SUPPORT SINCE 2018
Stating that last year alone, 138,184 seedlings and saplings were provided to farmers and producers in 31 districts, Mayor Altay reported that the number of seedlings and saplings provided to farmers since 2018 has reached exactly 23 million 226 thousand.
AMOUNT SPENT FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2018 EXCEEDS 965 MILLION TL
Mayor Altay also announced that the total agricultural support amount in 2025 was realized as 24 million 575 thousand lira, stating, “Since 2018, we have made 66 small-scale irrigation investments with the support of the Konya Plain Project (KOP). During this process, the total amount of irrigation investments has reached 596 million lira at current prices. Since 2018, the total amount we have spent on seedlings, saplings, seeds, agricultural equipment support, and small-scale irrigation investments for agricultural development has exceeded 965 million lira. I wish it to be beneficial for our farmers and producers.”
“WE WILL DRAW ATTENTION TO OUR CITY'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, WATER ISSUE, AND CONSERVATION”
Mayor Altay mentioned that the traditionally held Konya Agriculture Fair will also be meticulously organized this year, stating, “As you know, the Konya Agriculture Fair, one of the most important agricultural fairs in our country, opens tomorrow. I hope the fair, which will bring together farmers and sector representatives from our country and all over the world, will be beneficial. During this process, we will draw attention to our city's agricultural production, water issue, and conservation with the practices we carry out in different parts of our city.”
“COUNTRIES THAT PRODUCE THEIR OWN FOOD ARE STRONG, WHILE COUNTRIES THAT DO NOT BECOME DEPENDENT”
Mayor Altay pointed out that the wars, crises, and climate change happening in the world today remind us of a very important reality, continuing his speech as follows:
“Agriculture is no longer just a production issue; it is a matter of food security, economy, diplomacy, and national security. Countries that produce their own food are strong, while countries that do not become dependent. In this regard, Turkey has experienced a very important development process in agriculture in recent years. Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, agriculture has become a strategic sector, a guarantee of economic independence, and an important area that secures our future. During this process, significant investments have been made that center on farmers, supported by technology, and based on domestic and national production. Our President stated when announcing the National Agriculture Project: ‘If we do not give the value that our loyal beloved land deserves, we not only threaten our own future and that of our descendants but also the future of all humanity. A person who turns their back on the land has committed the greatest betrayal to themselves; because my Lord informs us that we were created from the earth and that we will return to the earth.’ This statement clearly shows that agriculture is not just a production issue, but also a matter of civilization, a future, and a responsibility.”
“IF AGRICULTURE IS STRONG, THE CITY IS STRONG; IF THE CITY IS STRONG, OUR COUNTRY IS STRONG”
President Altay emphasized that Konya is not just a city that produces, but a capital of agriculture that plans, manages, develops, and communicates agriculture to the world, stating, “Today, if Turkey ranks first in agricultural output in Europe and among the top seven countries in the world; this success is a result of this vision. One of the most important centers of this strong agricultural vision is undoubtedly our hometown, Konya. Our city, which has an area of 42 thousand square kilometers, has approximately 1 million 890 thousand hectares of agricultural land. This size clearly demonstrates Konya's strength and potential in agriculture. We believe this; if agriculture is strong, the city is strong; if the city is strong, our country is strong. Indeed, agriculture is food security, employment, development, environment, and the most valuable heritage we will leave to future generations. The effort is ours, the victory is Allah's. We have a long way to go and much work to do. After a winter season with abundant rainfall, I wish a fruitful year to all our farmers who produce with their sweat. Inshallah, we will continue to carry the fertile lands of our Konya to stronger tomorrows together. I hope that all the projects we have implemented will be a means of good.” he concluded his speech with these words.
In the final part of the press conference, President Altay also answered questions from journalists.