#Turkey #Agriculture Technology #XAG #Gönen #Turkish Farmers

Turkish Farmers Lead the Charge in Smart Water Solutions

In recent years, Turkey has faced a significant environmental challenge, with 186 of its 240 lakes vanishing over the past six decades. This ongoing crisis has spurred local farmers, particularly in the rice-producing region of Gönen, to innovate their agricultural practices. Farmers such as the Gökmen family and the experienced rice producer Hüseyin Armağan have turned to technology, specifically agricultural drones, as a solution to combat both water scarcity and operational inefficiencies.

Rice farming in Turkey’s Gönen is critically impacted by a combination of severe droughts and unpredictable rain patterns, both threatening crop yields and creating logistical challenges for farmers. As Recep Gökmen explains, muddy fields following showers can prevent traditional tractors from accessing farmland, which may result in delays that can last up to fifteen days. This lag can cause farmers to miss vital treatment intervals that are crucial for maintaining crop health and overall productivity.

Hüseyin Armağan, who manages 110 hectares of rice fields inherited over thirty years, shares his own frustrations with conventional agricultural practices. He notes, "With traditional methods, it was common for crop damage to occur due to overlapping applications. Heavy machinery would often crush seedlings, and chemicals could be wasted due to runoff or aerial drift, not to mention the constant struggle to find enough qualified labor each season."

In light of these obstacles, Turkish agriculture, which consumes around 70% of the nation's water resources, grapples with rising energy and input costs as well as unpredictable market prices, creating a squeeze on already slim profit margins for small-scale producers. These pressures have led local farmers like Armağan and the Gökmen family to reconsider traditional methods in favor of innovative solutions—namely, the XAG P100 Pro drone.

This fully autonomous drone is capable of precision spraying, fertilizing, and seeding. Its foldable design, 50-kilogram carrying capacity, and user-friendly smartphone controls have transformed daily operations in the fields. Transitioning to drone technology has marked a significant shift for the Gökmen family, as they move away from manual and tractor-driven farming toward a more efficient model. As Özgür Gökmen describes, "I set the adjustments, and it operates without any intervention. When spraying is finished, it lands exactly where it took off."

This change in workflow has alleviated the burden of long night shifts and the frantic search for seasonal labor during peak periods. Armağan highlights the speed of operations, stating, "Work that used to take days can now be completed in hours, regardless of the terrain's size or slope. The drone can fly safely beneath power lines and over rough ground."

The efficiency achieved with the XAG drone is remarkable. Instead of using up to 40 liters of water per decare with traditional spray tractors, the drone only requires between 1 to 5 liters. Pesticide usage has also seen significant reductions, dropping from about 100 grams per decare to only 40-60 grams. This precision not only lessens waste but also supports healthier crops and improved yields.

Labor demands have shrunk as well. Once dependent on hired help and extensive working hours, the Gökmen family now requires only one or two skilled operators to manage the same area. Özgür notes the evolution in their family farm roles, emphasizing less physical strain and pressure on both older and younger members as they collaborate more efficiently.

The benefits extend beyond economic gains. Exposure to chemicals has dramatically decreased; no longer do farmers find themselves surrounded by clouds of spray or traversing muddy fields. The crops are healthier, resulting in fewer crushed seedlings, overlooked patches, and burnt plants. As Armağan observes, "You simply see less waste and less damage. The coverage area of the drone is consistently reliable."

For rural communities like Gönen, this technological advancement signifies an improved standard of living and renewed hope. With agriculture now equipped with high-tech tools and potential for increased profitability, the likelihood of youth abandoning farming for city jobs is declining. Fields are cleaner, and yields are rising—Armağan estimates a roughly 10% increase in productivity, a significant gain over extensive areas.

Both the Gökmen family and Armağan consider the switch to XAG drones one of their best decisions. The durability, easy maintenance, and reliable local support for these agricultural drones allow farmers to focus on production rather than continuous upkeep. As Recep notes, "You gain in agriculture regarding labor costs, fuel, and everything else. This gives us confidence that nothing is missing—everything is where it should be."

Amid escalating climate, labor, and economic challenges, these stories illustrate how investing in technology can ripple positively across a region. Turkish farmers, blending generational agricultural wisdom with cutting-edge technology, are constructing a future that values every drop of water, every grain, and every hour of labor.