Climate Change Impacts on Mediterranean Agriculture: Experts Report Decline in Drought-Resistant Crop Yields

ANKARA: Climate change, marked by erratic rainfall and elevated temperatures, is severely affecting agricultural yields, fruit quality, and harvest timings, particularly in Trkiye’s Mediterranean region, experts report. The changes are disrupting not only the production cycles of various fruits and vegetables but also diminishing the taste and overall quality of the crops.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ayzin Kuden, a senior member at an independent accreditation body for agricultural programs in Trkiye, detailed the challenges faced by local farmers due to climate irregularities. Kuden noted that fruit trees experienced significant stress due to the prolonged winter followed by a hot spring and summer this year. This stress has led to premature ripening of fruits which results in loss of flavor and reduced yields. Specifically, crops such as cherries, sour cherries, pears, strawberries, pomegranates, grapes, apricots, and lemons have seen a yield decrease ranging from 10 to 20%. Even traditionally drought-res
istant crops like almonds and pistachios are reporting declines.

The high temperatures have also adversely affected vegetables like tomatoes, watermelons, and melons, leading to early harvests and compromised taste due to softening and deterioration of produce. Kuden also raised concerns about the potential for a warm autumn to induce early flowering in peach trees, which could further degrade fruit quality.

Additionally, Kuden suggested that the agricultural sector should consider shifting towards crops that require less irrigation, such as olives, figs, pistachios, and carob, and emphasized the importance of adopting water-efficient techniques like deep-rooted rootstocks, drip irrigation, and closed water transport systems.

Halim Orta, a faculty member at Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, described this year’s weather conditions as a precursor to a potential peak drought expected around 2040. He explained that the timing of precipitation has become increasingly problematic, now occurring during the harves
t months of July and August rather than during the sowing period of April and May, which aligns poorly with the water needs of summer and winter crops. Orta highlighted that such irregular weather patterns could result in increased processing costs and lower yields, as dry soil makes tillage and machinery operation more challenging.