️ 🇹🇷 Reuters: Farmers in western Turkey are switching from cotton to crops that need less water as drought and rising costs squeeze their livelihoods. The change comes with the opening of the COP31 climate talks in Antalya.
Turkey recorded its worst drought in more than 50 years in 2025. A local agriculture group says the area planted to cotton around Söke has shrunk by about 60% this year, while national seed cotton production is expected to drop by 38%.
Turkey has earmarked 174 billion lira ($3.5 billion) for irrigation investments in next year's budget. The Ministry of Agriculture says that additional support is needed, including from the private sector.