Türkiye estimates $7B annual revenue, 1.3M jobs from GAP project by 2032
World's 3rd largest dam, Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates River, built between 1983 and 1992, part of the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP).
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, stated that irrigation plans in the Euphrates and Tigris River sub-basins included in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Action Plan are expected to conclude by 2032, generating $7 billion in annual revenue and creating employment for 1.3 million people.
The GAP is an ongoing project since the inception of the Republic of Türkiye to develop agriculture and the economy of southeastern provinces.
Minister Yumakli attended the GAP Precision Agriculture Phase 2 Launch Ceremony held at the GAP Agricultural Research Institute in Sanliurfa, alongside Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir.
Speaking at the event, Yumakli highlighted the determinative role of irrigation plans in developing GAP, indicating that 10.6 million decares of land are targeted for irrigation, with two-thirds of this goal already achieved.
‘GAP’s agricultural output increased 22 times in 18 years’
Yumakli emphasized that GAP, with its fertile lands, is a crucial center for food security. Referring to significant investments made in the region over the past 22 years, Yumakli noted that a strong agricultural and forestry infrastructure has been established across nine cities in the GAP region.
Detailing the benefits of investments in the region, Yumakli continued:
In the last 22 years, with the investments we have made in the GAP region, crop production has doubled, the number of cattle and small ruminants has doubled, poultry production has tripled, aquaculture production has increased ninefold, and honey production has grown sevenfold. As a result, the agricultural output of the GAP region has increased 22 times in 18 years. Moreover, agricultural exports have risen 56-fold, reaching $5.6 billion.
‘15,400 investments distributed to the region’
Meanwhile, Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, pointed out that 20 Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs) were established across nine provinces of the GAP region over the past 22 years, providing an additional 360,000 jobs.
“With our investment incentive system, we have paved the way for 15,400 investments, with a total investment amounting to ₺1.1 trillion creating more than 710,000 qualified jobs,” Kacir stated.
Kacir recalled that, through the GAP Regional Development Administration, $6.6 billion has been allocated over the past 11 years for 1,038 projects, including precision agriculture, efficient water management, rural development and tourism.
Referring to the Small-Scale Agricultural Irrigation Program introduced two years ago, Kacir remarked that 318,000 decares of land have been opened to irrigation. “Starting next year, we will open another 52,500 decares of land for irrigation, creating employment for 49,000 people,” Kacir noted.
Kacir also underlined that the region has been revitalized with projects such as the Organic Farming, Agricultural Infrastructure and Rural Development Projects, bringing 172,000 decares of land into agricultural production and branding 15 unique products.
‘GAP region will be the key guarantor for food security’
Minister Kacir stated that they have completed the first phase of the “Integrated Rural Development Program,” which includes multi-dimensional tools to foster comprehensive development in the region.
“Our goal, under the GAP Action Plan, is to increase the irrigated land to 1.06 million hectares. As irrigation expands, the production of oilseeds, vegetables, and fruits—key to our country’s needs—will increase significantly, making the GAP region the most critical guarantor of food security for both Türkiye and the region,” Kacir said.
Kacir recalled ministry support for technological innovation in agriculture by aiding 235 tech enterprises working in agricultural technologies and 23 R&D centers developing projects in the sector.
Domestic software developed to transform modern harvest practices
Discussing the first phase of the GAP Precision Agriculture and Sustainable Applications Dissemination Project, Kacir remarked on the creation of a rich dataset using satellite images and hyperspectral camera footage.
“We have launched our domestic software, GAP Precision. This software, integrated into the e-Government platform, simplifies precision farming in the field with an innovative interface. As of August, it is available to our farmers. With this platform, farmers can now determine optimal harvest times and required fertilizer amounts without needing additional equipment,” Kacir explained.
Kacir also announced that they have initiated work on a decision-support mechanism to monitor 200,000 decares of land through satellite images, which will be actively used by farmers in the near future.
“Additionally, with the GAP Precision Agriculture Project Fusion Center we established, we are training consultants to guide farmers in using technology more effectively in agricultural production,” Kacir said.
‘Details of the 2024–2028 GAP Action Plan to be disclosed’
Minister Kacir emphasized that, under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s leadership, two significant action plans for the GAP region have been successfully implemented by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) governments.
“In the coming period, we will launch a new action plan that will achieve irrigation targets, expand sustainable and smart farming practices, enable the region’s agriculture to support future generations, create economic value in rural areas, and position the region as a tourism hub,” he announced.
Minister Kacir stated that an upcoming meeting in Sanliurfa, chaired by the Vice President, will bring together all sector stakeholders to present the plan. “We will soon share the details of the 2024–2028 GAP Action Plan with the public. We have identified 36 projects with a total investment of ₺12 billion ($347.2 million), which will significantly boost the development of our nine provinces. One of our priorities is to ensure that geographically indicated products from the region generate greater value for our producers and industries,” Kacir concluded.
Following the speeches, plaques were presented to contributors by Ministers Kacir and Yumakli. The event was attended by Parliament Deputy Speaker and AK Party Sanliurfa MP Bekir Bozdag, Sanliurfa Governor Hasan Sildak, Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Kasim Gulpinar and other officials and guests.
