Information and Communication Technologies in Turkish Agriculture

Abstract

In recent years, the Turkish agricultural sector has had serious problems, such as lower yields, higher input prices, higher production costs and loss of competitiveness in foreign markets, all leading to reductions in both crop and animal production. At the same time, measures such as curtailment of state financial support to farmers and farming businesses, coupled with the increasing costs of production inputs including seeds, fertilizers, sprays, machinery and decreasing crop prices have negatively affected the sector and primarily the farmers. But, besides taking measures affecting structural change, it is also necessary to establish ways of ensuring accurate information exchange between farmers, agri-food industries and institutions for research and development if productivity and improvements in the competitive power of Turkish farmers within foreign and domestic markets are to be assured. The paper outlines the current situation concerning information and communication technologies (ICT) and agriculture in Turkey and the challenges facing the rural sector in striving towards a knowledge society.