Agriculture and Livestock

Hatay's agricultural areas, soil structure, climate and other natural conditions allow product variety, early harvest and growing second crops. It is possible to cultivate four seasons of the year in Hatay. Especially fruits, vegetables and olive grove areas are well above average in Turkey.

Cultivated areas constitute 273.115 hectares (51%) of total 540.300 hectares of our province's area. 146.441 Hectares (54%) of cultivated areas are economically irrigable and approximately 20% (28.341 hectares) of this area is irrigated. When Reyhanlı, Orta Ceyhan Menzelet, Buyuk Karacay and Dostluk Dams, which are currently under construction, are finished, 105.950 hectares of area will be open for operation and irrigable area will reach 134.265 hectares (91,6%)

DID YOU KNOW THAT As per production Hatay Ranks 1st in 4 agricultural products and among top 5 in 26 agricultural products in Turkey?

Source: TUIK, 2013 

HaHatay ranked 1st in fresh fruits and vegetables export, by exporting 478 million $'s worth production, which was 20% of Turkey's 2.35 million $ export (TIM, 2012). The fact that packaging sector is developed in the province had a large role in Hatay's success in the said sector. The success of the province in the sector is largely related to the packaging sector which is also highly developed.

Ecological conditions of Hatay offer opportunities for early fruit growing. There are suitable areas for organic agriculture. Heating costs are low for greenhouse cultivation. There are corporate businesses in which medicinal and aromatic plants are processed, and there are rich endemic plant species in the province. There are educational institutions, which allow agricultural clustering and livestock at bachelor's and associate's degree level in the province and the counties.

Animal Production
From 2012 to 2013 the number of cattle has risen from 140,001 to 142,473.
Hatay Province stands out especially with the existence of poultry and production related to poultry; 58 per cent of chicken population, all of white meat production and 47 per cent of egg production in the region are in Hatay. Apiculture activities and honey production in TR63 region have a significant part nationwide in Turkey; Hatay has 44 per cent of bee hives and 48 per cent of honey production in the region.

Hatay provides the %52 of agricultural production in TR63 Region and %2.1 of Turkey with 2.75 billion TL total production.

Hatay Province Agricultural Production Value (1000 TL )

Source: TUIK 

"Agricultural and Rural Development Strategic Plan" was prepared by the economic support of our agency in order to exploit the maximum level of agricultural potential of our province in 2011.

Province of Hatay Agricultural and Rural Development Strategic Plan
Especially for branding and export-focused planning of the province's agriculture, "Province of Hatay Agricultural and Rural Development Strategic Plan" was prepared with the participation of all shareholders, taking into account national and international agricultural policies. Thanks to the plan, agricultural product potential will be evaluated better and agricultural and agro-industrial investments in the region will be shaped to provide the highest added value.

The following are targeted within the scope of the plan:

• Development of qualified human resources in the agricultural sector,
• Increasing the amount of exportable products in the olive, olive oil, citrus fruits and cotton sectors and branding,
• Province to become an important production center in the region, in respect of horticulture, field crops and medicinal and aromatic plants,
• Development of stockbreeding and aquaculture in the province,
• Development of organic and Globalgap® certified agriculture throughout the province,
• Increasing the amount of irrigated areas and protecting environment and bio-diversity for sustainable agriculture,
• Development of agricultural industry, strengthening of agricultural marketing and activating farmers' organizations,
• Improving infrastructure in rural areas and increasing the quality of life.

Province of Hatay Agricultural and Rural Development Strategic Plan envisages important measures for the development of agriculture and stockbreeding. When the objectives and activities of the plan are accomplished, Province of Hatay is expected to become the Agricultural Trade Base of the Middle East.