Central Anatolia faces its driest winter

High temperatures and lack of rain is causing agricultural production and energy prices to soar, as Western and Central Anatolia experience one of the driest winters in recent years.

The sharpest drops were recorded in the Mediterranean and Central Anatolian regions, where the average rainfall was 38 percent below average levels.

The persistence of the drought could reduce fruit and vegetable production by a quarter and increase prices at least 20 percent, the head of the Turkish Agriculturists' Association (TZD) has warned.

He said the planting season for products like sugar beet, sunflowers, corn and soya had arrived, but the soil was not suitable for planting, as these products require humid soil and periodic rainfall. He added that potato growers would have to reap their harvest in April and if the soil did not get enough water by that time, efficiency targets would not be achieved.

In order for an efficient harvest to be yielded and for further losses to be avoided, sector representatives say that total rainfall in March and April will be crucial.

Energy Minister Taner Yıldız has drawn attention to another aspect of the issue, saying the government could boost natural gas use in the summer to cover the gap that will emerge by the drop in electricity production by dams.