Ankara: The production and cultivation area of cannabis, recognized as one of Trkiye’s ‘strategic products’, is experiencing a notable rise, driven by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s advocacy and efforts by the Agriculture Ministry.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Grain Board has initiated cannabis production and its application in pharmaceuticals. The effort has resulted in a substantial increase in cannabis seed production, which soared by approximately 70% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 556 tons. This marks a significant growth from the 273 tons recorded in 2020, as compiled by data from the TurkStat statistical bureau.
Over the past five years, cannabis seed production has fluctuated, totaling 1,335 tons. The production of hemp fiber, derived from cannabis, has also seen a dramatic increase. From a modest 9 tons in 2020, production rose to 21 tons in 2021, 31 tons in 2022, and then surged to 359 tons in 2023. By 2024, hemp fiber production had jumped 238.7% to 1,216 tons.
The cultivat
ion area dedicated to hemp fiber has expanded significantly, growing from 101,000 square meters in 2020 to 8,845,000 square meters in 2024. Similarly, the cannabis seed cultivation area increased from 4,252,000 square meters in 2020 to 7,206,000 square meters last year.
A cannabis project is being implemented by the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), universities, and the Turkish private sector. This initiative aims to produce polymeric composite materials using flax, hemp, and nettle fibers as reinforcement for irrigation systems and drainage materials.
In collaboration with TAGEM, the Scientific and Technological Research Institution (TUBITAK), and Ondokuz Mayis University in the northeastern province of Samsun, a project was launched in 2021 to develop two new cannabis species with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, named ‘Narli’ and ‘Vezir’. Further research aims to create species with high fiber content.
The Turkish private sector is actively working to utilize mor
e hemp in products, particularly within the textile and automotive industries.