World Farmers' Day

May 14 International Farmers’ Day is a special day observed worldwide each year to emphasize the indispensable value of agriculture to societies and to honor the labor of farmers. This date was chosen to commemorate the founding of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) in 1946 and has been officially observed since 1984.

Throughout human history, farming has been at the foundation of survival and the development of civilizations. Agricultural activities that began approximately 12,000 years ago enabled humans to transition to settled life and played a decisive role in meeting basic needs such as food clothing and shelter. Turkey, with its fertile lands in Anatolia and Thrace, has historically occupied an important geographic position in agricultural production.

Farming is not merely an economic activity; it is also recognized as the guarantee of food security the sustainer of rural life and the center of environmentally sustainable production. However modern agricultural policies and global market conditions have brought about several challenges threatening farming:

- Rising input costs

- Aging and declining rural population

- Loss of sustainability for small family farms

- Increased production risks due to climate change natural disasters and conflicts

^{A Scene of Farmers Engaged in Agriculture}

The number of farmers in Türkiye has decreased significantly in recent years. The registered farmer population which stood at approximately three million at the beginning of the 2000s has now fallen to two million. Although the agricultural sector provides 18 percent of the country’s employment it accounts for only about 5 percent of gross domestic product. Structural problems such as high input costs inadequate support policies and weak social security conditions negatively affect farmers’ motivation to produce.

Various institutions including the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TZOB) organize awareness campaigns for farmers every year on May 14 and call for improvements in agricultural policies. TZOB advocates for increased agricultural support reduced social security premiums and the implementation of pricing policies that take into account the welfare of farmers.

May 14 International Farmers’ Day is a critical awareness day aimed at rebuilding the dignity of farming drawing attention to the structural challenges facing agriculture and ensuring future food security. The labor of Turkish farmers is fundamental to the nation’s economy and public health.