Turkey's Decline in Lentil Production and the Import Process
The decline in lentil production in Turkey despite population growth and the necessity to import millions of tons have been revealed through agricultural data.
The declining trend of lentil production in Turkey and the increase in foreign dependency were brought to the agenda in detail with figures shared by agricultural writer Gazi Kutlu and current data.
Production Decreased While Population Increased
While Turkey produced 846 thousand tons of lentils in the 1990s with a population of 56 million, over the past 36 years the population increased by 30 million to reach 86 million, while production dropped to around 433 thousand tons.
Having once ranked at the top of world lentil production, Turkey experienced a serious loss in production capacity, falling behind in the rankings alongside this major decline.
Billions of Dollars in Imports
Between 2003 and 2025, Turkey imported a total of 7.6 million tons of lentils, paying a total of 5.4 billion dollars to foreign markets for these purchases.
In the first seven months of 2026 alone, the amount of imported lentils entering the country reached 446 thousand tons, clearly revealing the scale of foreign dependency.
The Rise of Canada
Canada, which previously produced using seeds taken from Turkey, has managed to become one of the most important powers in world lentil production and global trade today.
Turkey, on the other hand, created a striking paradox by ranking among the top countries purchasing lentils—a natural product of its own lands—from abroad.
Reaction from Producers and Experts
Experts and farmers react to the situation by arguing that flawed agricultural policies and the purchasing policies of the Turkish Grain Board fail to support domestic producers while protecting merchants.