Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı Addresses Key Issues at AA Editorial Desk
In a recent appearance at the Anadolu Agency (AA) Editorial Desk, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı discussed several pressing issues and provided insight into ongoing initiatives.
**Regulation on Stray Animals Approved**
Recalling the regulations concerning stray animals accepted by the TBMM Commission on Agriculture, Forestry, and Village Affairs, Yumaklı said, “The issue recognized as a problem across all of Turkey has been brought to the legislative level.” He noted that past regulations in 2004 and 2021 were crucial in changing the status of domestic animals from “property” to “beings.”
“These regulations aimed to address and mitigate the issue of animal torture prevalent at the time,” Yumaklı added. However, the minister acknowledged that the “catch, neuter, release” model had limited effectiveness in controlling the animal population and noted, “The increase in the animal population is leading to various negative impacts on social life.”
**Misinterpretations and Speculations**
Addressing speculations around euthanasia, Yumaklı clarified, “From the moment the word ‘euthanasia’ was mentioned, a false narrative that all stray animals would be collected and killed started to circulate.” He emphasized that this is not the case and outlined the systematic approach to handling stray dogs, which includes neutering, vaccination, and rehabilitation.
**Fight Against Forest Fires and Misconceptions**
Yumaklı addressed claims that forested areas were being opened for construction post-fires. “Even the deaf have heard that burned areas are not opened up for construction, but those making these claims haven’t. There is no such thing. We reforest these areas by the end of the following year.” He also stated that police investigations revealed 90% of forest fires to be human-induced and highlighted ongoing efforts to combat these fires year-round.
**Combatting Price Gouging**
On the subject of exorbitant price hikes on certain products, Yumaklı stated, “This is pricing behavior that cannot be attributed to the lack of products or their cost. Our battle against price gouging will continue in coordination with the Ministry of Trade.”
**Agricultural and Livestock Production Plans**
Yumaklı also discussed measures to stabilize meat prices and assured that the country’s livestock numbers are sufficient to meet needs. Additionally, he announced that strategic plans are set for the production of several key crops and mentioned the enhanced support structure for women entrepreneurs, youth, and family businesses.
**Wheat Production and Market Regulation**
Highlighting a forecast of 21 million tons of wheat for this year, Yumaklı stated, “The total agricultural production in Turkey by the end of 2023 is estimated to be around 139 million tons.”
**Irrigation Investments**
He stressed the importance of water efficiency and reported significant investments in irrigation facilities over the past 22 years.
**Commitment to Sustainability**
Summing up the ministry’s commitments, Yumaklı underlined the goal of increasing agricultural sustainability and efficient resource management while maintaining the well-being of Turkish producers.