ISTANBUL, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government's new rural development plan should be comprehensive and farmers-oriented so as to secure sustainable agricultural growth in the country, experts said recently.

On March 19, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during an event in Ankara that the government will provide 18.5 billion Turkish liras (about 487 million U.S. dollars) "of rural development support from the budget as well as with credit and co-financing assistance from international organizations and institutions."

"We will therefore invest approximately 25 billion liras in rural areas and create employment for 10,000 people," he said, adding that starting from 2025, the government will provide 37 billion liras of additional grants in aid to Turkish farmers over the next five years.

Yener Ataseven, an academic from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Ankara University, said the new plan aims to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable food supplies.

"Farmers will be able to make more precise production decisions, knowing in advance how much support they will receive for specific crops in different regions," Ataseven told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ataseven said the government should further focus on environmental sustainability for the plan to succeed, as excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, deforestation, and soil degradation threaten long-term agricultural viability.

The expert urged the government not to delay or make insufficient payments, stressing the need for additional support for small-scale producers.

Murat Kapikiran, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Agricultural Engineers, highlighted the importance of comprehensive planning for sustainable agricultural growth in the country.

He told Xinhua on Monday that without a well-rounded strategy that accounts for factors like drought, crop patterns, and water resources, increasing agricultural production in rural areas will be challenging.

"Furthermore, to resolve all farmer debts in a timely manner, the new support model must be designed to favor the farmers, eliminating their need for credit. This requires a radical approach to implementation," Kapikiran said. Enditem

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