Turkey broke a record in January-April exports in the agricultural sector, marking a milestone. President Kırkgöz stated that products produced in Konya contribute to a significant portion of the exports, saying, "Konya ranks first in production in many products. As a city, we make a significant contribution to exports. We anticipate that this will increase even further these years."
In the agricultural sector, Turkey achieved a record by making the highest exports in the first 4 months of the year. During these months, exports experienced a 4.5-fold increase. Burak Kırkgöz, the President of the Chamber of Agricultural Engineers in Konya, emphasized the significant position of Turkey in agricultural exports and stated, "In January and March, agricultural exports in Turkey reached $8.626 billion with a 4.5% increase. In January and March, the agricultural sector accounted for 14% of Turkey's total foreign sales, compared to the same period last year. This means that agricultural products had a 14% share. Among these products, cereals, legumes, oilseeds, and their derivatives amounted to a total of $2.944 billion. Fresh fruits and vegetables accounted for approximately $941 million. There is also olive oil, which had exports amounting to $294 million."
Kırkgöz stated that Konya is in first place in terms of wheat, corn, and sugar beet production, saying, "Konya ranks first in wheat production in Turkey. A significant portion of the demand is met by our producers in Konya. additionally, we are also in the first place in corn and sugar beet. Hopefully, in the coming periods, we hope for increased production and further growth in exports. If the climate allows, we believe that production and foreign exports will increase in the coming years."
Kırkgöz emphasized that a significant portion of carrot production is met by Konya, stating, "Among the export products in Konya, we have seedlings, saplings, pears, strawberries, plums, melons, watermelons, apples, onions, tomatoes, parsley, leeks, and most importantly, carrots. These products have been subject to export. In the January-March period of 2023, 22,000 tons of exports were realized. Among these products, carrots were the most exported item, with approximately 3,750 tons exported. The large surface area of Konya and the increase in production also contribute to the growth of exports. The Konya region already holds an important position for carrots in Turkey. The majority of production takes place in the Kaşınhani District. The Kaşınhani region has developed itself in carrot production and farmers themselves have carried out the processes from the field to overseas."
Kırkgöz emphasized that Konya has a strong presence in agricultural machinery exports, stating, "There is a significant number of exports in the field of agricultural machinery. Agriculture is already prominent in the Konya region. In addition to that, we know that the agricultural industry is at an advanced level, and most of the produced machinery and equipment are sent abroad. The majority of machinery produced for the domestic market is manufactured in Konya."
