Konya Expands Drought-Resistant Safflower Support for Farmers

Konya Metropolitan Municipality continues to expand its drought resistant seed support program in order to promote development in rural areas and increase agricultural diversity.

Konya Metropolitan Municipality continues its efforts to support drought-resistant crops, aiming to mitigate the effects of climate change and boost agricultural diversity in the region.

Konya Metropolitan Mayor Uğur İbrahim Altay emphasized that the impacts of climate change are being felt particularly strongly in the Konya Basin, and underlined the importance of promoting alternative crops that require less water and can withstand drought conditions.

3,490 Decares of Safflower to Be Planted

Highlighting the municipality’s support for increasing safflower production across Konya, Mayor Altay stated, “In 2025, we distributed 17,450 kilograms of safflower seeds with a 50 percent grant to the farmers who applied. This support will allow safflower cultivation on 3,490 decares of land. I hope it will be a fruitful season for our farmers.”

A Valuable Oil Crop

Pointing out that safflower is a low-water crop that can grow on arid land, Mayor Altay noted, “This support aims both to use our water resources more efficiently and to increase income diversity for our farmers. Safflower, which also produces highly valuable oil, is of great importance for increasing domestic oilseed production. As Konya Metropolitan Municipality, we will continue to stand by our producers and support sustainable agriculture through water-efficient farming.”

Farmers benefiting from the safflower seed support expressed their satisfaction with the program and their hope for its continuation, thanking Mayor Altay for the assistance provided.