| Extreme weather patterns in Turkey will likely result in short-term decreased agricultural yields and increased food prices, but as long as these weather events remain localized, the government is unlikely to take measures to ease farmers' debts. Extreme weather in Turkey in recent weeks, including heavy rain, hailstorms and high temperatures, has damaged significant portions of the country's agricultural sector, with some farmers reporting that they will only be able to harvest a quarter to a half of the amount they typically produce. For example, in the Aegean region's Manisa province — where 35% of gross income comes from agriculture and where farmers cultivate the majority of Turkey's grapes, cotton, olives and tobacco — climate change has caused unseasonably warm winter temperatures. This heat stress is likely to lower the quality and yield of grapes, resulting in bitter wines and, in the most severe cases, killing the grapevines. In another example, a mid-June hailstorm followed by heavy rains in the northwestern winemaking province of Kirklareli damaged wheat, barley and sunflower fields, as well as fruit trees. |
