ISTANBUL, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's Thrace region is facing one of its driest seasons in decades, prompting early sunflower harvests, threatening crop yields, and raising concerns over rising prices and growing reliance on agricultural imports, experts have warned.
Renowned for its fertile plains and temperate climate, the region is a cornerstone of Türkiye's agricultural output -- particularly for crops like sunflowers and wheat.
But this year, an alarming lack of rainfall has upended expectations. Fields that once promised rich harvests now paint a bleak picture.
"We are experiencing something like this for the first time," said Halim Orta, a professor at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University and a wheat farmer in Türkiye's Thrace region.
"There is a serious meteorological drought," he told Xinhua.
"As a striking example, Tekirdag recorded no rainfall at all in June, the first in decades," Orta noted, adding that the month typically sees about 40 millimeters of precipitation based on 50-year averages.
In this region, which produces more than half of Türkiye's oilseed crops, farmers face sharp declines in both quality and quantity, Orta said.
"Sunflower harvest usually starts in late August, but this year it is expected to begin at least a month earlier due to extreme weather," he explained.
Early inspections show a sharp drop in yield and oil content, with many crops falling well below Türkiye's 40 percent benchmark that determines purchase prices.
"Producers cannot even cover their costs under these conditions; profit is out of the question," Orta stressed. He warned the impact on markets will be severe, with consumers likely to face much higher sunflower oil prices this year.
If sunflower harvests drop by 50 percent, the price of a five-liter bottle of sunflower oil -- currently around 500 Turkish liras (12.38 U.S. dollars) -- could rise by at least 50 percent, possibly even doubling.
The scholar also noted that, except for one dam, water levels across Thrace remain below 10 percent, with many at just 1 to 2 percent, raising serious concerns about water availability and potential structural damage to dam infrastructure.
Ismail Sancakcavusu, a sunflower farmer in Edirne, described how extreme July heat prevented proper pollination and seed development.
"Normally, sunflowers would have fully developed seeds by mid-July, but the heat and drought have caused plants to wither prematurely. They appear ready for harvest but have essentially died from lack of water," he said.
Semsi Bayraktar, president of the Turkish Union of Chambers of Agriculture, examined the damage firsthand last week and posed for journalists in front of a completely dried-up sunflower field.
"We witnessed firsthand the yield losses our farmers are facing. We will continue to stand by them and make sure their voices are heard," he said.
Due to the severe drought threatening this year's sunflower crop, Türkiye will likely have to increase imports to meet domestic demand, according to Bayraktar. Currently, around 28 percent of the country's needs are met through imports. In 2024 alone, Türkiye spent 1.6 billion dollars importing sunflower seeds, oil, and meal. "This is a significant number," he said, urging authorities to take urgent measures. ■
