Turkey, as it is evident from its being one of the few countries in the world that is self sufficient in food, is a main producer of agricultural products. Provided by its suitable land and climate, this country has a great capacity to grow many kinds of crops. Historically, the agricultural sector has been Turkey’s largest employer and a major contributor to the GNP. However, as the country has developed, the relative importance of agriculture has declined, while the position of industry and the service sector has increased.

From 1980 to 1999, the share of agricultural products in exports declined from 57 to 10 percent, while industrial exports rose from 36 to 88 percent, signaling a wholesale shift from an agrarian to an industrial economy. Nowadays agriculture accounts for less than 20% of the GNP, although it employs well over half of the national labor force. Agricultural production is generally carried out by small family enterprises in Turkey. 10% of the farm land belongs to the large enterprises and 90% to smaller concerns. 70% of the cultivated land produces grain with wheat ranking as the first.

Wheat is common all over the country except north. Barley ranks as second, corn is third. Corn requires humid weather conditions during summer time, so the Black Sea Region is very suitable for its growth. Vegetables account for 60% of agricultural production. Lentils, chickpeas and beans are common. Broad beans and peas also grow in Turkey but on a smaller basis. Chickpeas grow in Central Anatolia, broad beans in western parts and lentils especially in Southeastern Anatolia.

The growing of potatoes has recently increased. Industrial products such as cotton, flax, sesame seeds and opium poppies have been grown for a long time in Turkey, but since the industrial developments after World War I new industrial vegetables such as sugar beet, sunflower seed and tea have also been produced. Tobacco is grown in the Aegean, Marmara and Black Sea Regions. Soybeans are grown in the Mediterranean. Many kinds of fruit are grown in most parts of the country.