Our Country needs a Serious Production Planning  

Academician of European University of Lefke (EUL) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Assist. Prof. Dr.Serhan Usanmaz stated that 16th of October which is the establishment date of Food and Agriculture Organisation is celebrated as the “World Food Day” and made some statement accordingly.

Usanmaz said that “In the World Food Day activities are held every year by FAO within the framework of a different theme, issues related to food production, consumption and food security are brought to the agenda and efforts are made to draw attention to the hunger and the fight against hunger which is of great importance globally” and added that as the follow up of the last year’s theme which was “Zero Hunger”, this year’s theme is determined as “Our Actions Are Our Future. Healthy Diet: For a non-hungry World”.

With the effects of globalization and urbanization, there have been significant changes in human’s eating habits in recent years.

Usanmaz said that “With the effects of globalization and urbanization, there have been significant changes in human’s eating habits in recent years. Prior to this, mankind, who was mainly fed with seasonal, mainly plant-based and fiber-rich foods, has been directed towards foods containing refined starch, sugar, fat, salt, processed foods, meat and other animal products” and added that people are now spending less time preparing food at home and consumers are increasingly relying on supermarkets, convenience foods and take-away restaurants, especially in urban areas.

Water is the main factor that limit production in our country

Pointing out that countries need to prepare regional and specific action plans and turn towards sustainable and healthy production and consumption, Usanmaz said that in terms of our country a serious production planning should be held and added that the production should be planned according to the needs of the consumers. Usanmaz further announced that at that point consumers also have responsibilities and emphasized that consumer needs come before consumer wishes and that the growing population and decreasing production resources (eg water) should be taken into consideration. Pointing out that water is the main factor that limit production in our country, Usanmaz said that the production planning should be mainly based on the resources of water. In this context, Usanmaz touched upon a study which he conducted with Assist. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kahramanoğlu and Assist. Prof. Dr. Turgut Alas who are Academicians in the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies and pointed out that the total amount of water that each plant needs for the same amount of fruit or vegetable production (eg 1 kg) shows an alteration. Usanmaz gave some examples from the findings of their study and said that for the production of 1 kg artichoke 219 liters, green beans 437 liters, cucumbers (greenhouses) 29 liters, lettuce 34 liters, melon 84 liters, peas 630 liters, potatoes (spring) 237 liters, strawberries 125 liters, tomatoes 260 liters, banana 301 liters , orange 303 liters, pomegranate 322 liters and peach 203 liters water (rain or watering) is needed. Usanmaz emphasized that the amount of water needed for the same amount of product varies considerably, as can be easily seen from these 13 vegetables and fruits. He further said that the theme of the World Food Day this year is “Our Actions are Our Future” and emphasized the necessity of a production/consumption plan based on a right basis.

Reminding that every individual has to be nourished to live, Usanmaz emphasized that consumption habits should change in order to produce and supply sustainable food and this year’s World Food Day theme should be understood well.