Speaking on the Gündem Özel program, TABİT Smart Agriculture Technologies Co-Founder Tülin Akın shared information on smart agriculture technologies and the opportunities they offer on Endüstri Radyo.
“Farmers Make Their Own Production Decisions”
Akın stated that there are 570 million farmers in the world, and 90% of them make their own production decisions, noting that in Turkey this rate exceeds 90% as well.
She added that 80% of global food production is produced by farmers who make their own decisions. Akın said, “Globally and in Turkey, there are many problems due to the climate crisis. Of course, other issues exist, but one of the most important is the climate crisis. In addition, natural disasters, farmers’ lack of access to accurate information, and failure to harvest crops at the right time lead to numerous problems from cultivation to marketing.”
Akın also noted that farmers migrate to cities due to economic problems in villages, which in turn creates additional issues.
“Directed the Effects of the Climate Crisis Towards Smart Agriculture”
Highlighting the importance of smart agriculture technologies to prevent the negative impacts of the climate crisis on farmers’ production, Akın said, “When smart technologies first entered our lives, they seemed like a luxury, but for agriculture, they are now a necessity. Farmers need to monitor the climate correctly, control weather conditions, wind, temperature, and humidity. For this, it has become essential for farmers to use technology.”
Akın emphasized that farmers are not resistant to technology but are cautious about risk: “For farmers, avoiding risk means being able to sow and harvest the same crop consistently. A small mistake can change the entire year’s income. Therefore, they previously avoided making changes in their crop patterns or operations. This was negative, but unfortunately, they have seen the effects of the climate crisis and are now turning to technology.”
She noted that many smart agriculture technologies—such as early warning systems, digital leaves, digital pheromone traps, and smart bracelets monitoring animal stress—are being used, demonstrating the necessity of these tools.
Akın concluded by stating that farmers have a desire to improve themselves and that she sees the future in a positive position in this regard.