Aegean Region cotton cultivation areas projected to decrease by 47%

Cotton cultivation areas in Turkey’s Aegean Region are projected to decrease by 47% for the 2026-2027 season, dropping to 49,000 hectares. Despite this contraction, average yield per decare is expected to rise by 14% to 499 kilograms due to improved irrigation access and reduced pest pressure.

Bülent Uçak, President of the İzmir Commodity Exchange (İTB), announced that total raw cotton production is estimated at 247,000 tons, with processed cotton production expected to reach approximately 93,000 tons. The decline in domestic production is expected to drive increased reliance on imports, with costs potentially exceeding $2 billion.

Uçak noted that rising production costs have led farmers to switch to alternative crops like sunflower, corn, and forage plants. He called for government support levels to be increased from the current 7-8% of production costs to at least 15%, emphasizing the need for subsidies to cover diesel, fertilizer, and electricity costs to prevent further losses in the sector.