Warning of potential fruit and vegetable shortages this year

Prof. Dr. İbrahim Ortaş made the following assessments regarding the issue:

"This year, temperatures that remained above seasonal norms in our country, particularly in the Çukurova region, followed by sudden cold waves, have negatively affected agricultural production. For this reason, there will be a loss in yield in agricultural production this year, especially in garden crops.

Temperatures that dropped to -3°C and in some places as low as -7°C, particularly around Central Anatolia and the Taurus Mountains, caused agricultural crops to freeze. The frost events, which have continued for the last four days and whose effects are still being felt, have caused serious damage to many fruit trees and plants that were in bloom. Past frosts of -1°C or -2°C were not this effective. In particular, the sudden temperature drops and frost events in the Southeast on April 9 and 10 (between -2.0°C and -3.2°C) caused serious damage to agricultural crops.

'Frost caused plants to freeze and flowers to shed'

According to information from farmers in the region, problems such as product loss and a decline in quality have emerged due to this frost, which occurred especially during the flowering period of fruit trees. Although official damage assessment reports have not yet been published, initial evaluations indicate that serious losses have occurred. The drying and flower shedding caused by the frost, which resulted from the sudden drop in nighttime temperatures over four days, indicate that the yield of some products will be quite low this year.

Farmers state that there is great destruction in their gardens. Among fruit trees, stone fruits such as apricots, plums, and cherries, as well as berry plants, were seriously affected by the cold. Regarding vegetable products, it is stated that there is a loss of yield in potatoes grown in open fields and in products such as tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce in greenhouses.

'Damage has not yet been determined in different regions, but it is stated that the loss is significant'

According to data reflected in the press, significant damage has also occurred in regions such as the Black Sea, Central Anatolia, the Mediterranean, and the Aegean (Manisa vineyards). It is predicted that there will be serious production problems in hazelnut production in the Black Sea, vineyards in the Aegean, and apricot production centers like Malatya. According to statements by Anamur Chamber of Agriculture President Ahmet Şeref Gümüş reflected in the press, "approximately 40 percent of the fruits and flowers were burned due to the cold weather."
Gümüş stated that "the cold weather and frost event effective in the region damaged agricultural products in greenhouses and open fields."

'Taking out insurance is important for security'

Since our farmers generally do not take out agricultural insurance, we hope that a serious economic problem will not be experienced. In this context, it is of great importance to increase precautions against such weather conditions by taking into account meteorological warnings and expert opinions. Furthermore, considering that in the age of technology, the frost risk of the regions where they are located can be known, it would be beneficial for farmers to make use of scientific information. Of course, experienced and established farmers can predict the frost risk of their region. However, sudden changes in the climate often lead to being caught unprepared.

'There may be a shortage of fruits and vegetables this year'

Due to the frost events, serious difficulties may be experienced this year in vegetables such as stone fruits, potatoes, and greenhouse products. Prices, which are already high due to current high inflation, could rise further. The issue needs to be analyzed holistically and early precautions taken. Otherwise, the poor and those living on fixed incomes who already struggle to access food may be forced to pay even more for fruits and vegetables."

News Source: 12punto