According to a recent article in Daily Sabah, nearly 90% of cultivated land in Istanbul now operates under planned agricultural production, reflecting a major shift toward the use of domestically developed seed varieties.

Suat Parıldar, director of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, said more than 80% of the seeds distributed in the region last year were locally produced. For 2025, sunflower seed distributions are entirely made up of nationally developed types.

Of the city’s 869,000 decares of farmland, approximately 746,000 decares are actively farmed, with key production zones including Silivri, Çatalca, Arnavutköy, Şile, Beykoz, and Büyükçekmece.

The adoption of Türkiye’s Agricultural Production Planning system has accelerated Istanbul’s transition. Initially focused on fisheries and livestock, the program now includes crops. Farmers under the plan receive full fuel subsidies and 50% fertilizer support, compared to 50% and 25%, respectively, for others.

Parıldar also highlighted the importance of aligning crop selection with sustainable water use to reduce risks tied to drought.

This year, authorities distributed 1.4 million seedlings—ranging from wheat and barley to canola and sunflower—across the province. The Şile district has grown into a hub for aromatic crops and flax, with 230 decares now under flax cultivation, making Istanbul Türkiye’s second-largest producer.

Silivri has secured a geographic indication for Ormanlı rice, now planted on 2,900 decares. The city also leads in hazelnut production, with over 21,000 decares dedicated to the crop.

Beyond crops, Istanbul maintains a strong presence in aquaculture and livestock, with 661 km of coastline, nearly 2,000 licensed boats, and 18,000 registered fishers. Livestock includes 80,000 cattle, 170,000 sheep and goats, and 13,000 water buffalo.

Home to more than 134,000 food firms—18% of the national total—Istanbul is also a key player in food trade. In 2024, the city accounted for 25% of Türkiye’s food exports and 56% of food and feed imports. Inspectors conducted over 230,000 food safety audits and more than 1 million advisory visits during the year.