The European Union (EU) has given Turkey a green light to commence accession negotiations with the view of joining in the future. Among the many issues the country will have to resolve before the deal is sealed will be its inefficient farming sector.
Just like some ex-Soviet bloc countries that joined the EU in May, Turkey has the old problem of farmer overcapacity in agriculture. Farming at the moment accounts for 12% of the country’s GDP and is reported to be falling every year, whilst the sector employs eight million people, a 40% share of the entire workforce. Other problems include vast farm product price differences between Turkey and other EU states.
Reducing employment in the sector and creating jobs elsewhere is not the only potentially painful measure that Turkey will have to implement if it is to be a valued partner. The country needs drastic urbanisation measures and solutions to a wide range of social problems.
Organic farming has been identified as a potential growth area for Turkey, as organic products exported to the EU market would be expected to stir considerable interest.
