Agricultural Banking

For 162 years, Ziraat Bank has assumed a pioneering role in the development and modernization of the agricultural sector in Türkiye through the financing of agricultural production. Today, the Bank, which prioritizes the financing of sustainable agriculture, addresses the widespread adoption of high value-added production models, agro-industry integration, agricultural literacy, and digital agriculture practices as strategic priorities.

In 2025, Ziraat Bank provides strong financing support across various areas with the aim of combating climate change and promoting sustainable agriculture. Within the scope of mitigating climate change, the Bank encourages low-carbon production models through loans extended for agricultural renewable energy investments, as well as for organic and good agricultural practices and biological and biotechnical pest control methods. In addition, through loans provided for pressurized irrigation systems, controlled-environment crop production, domestic certified seedling and sapling cultivation, and agricultural mechanization investments, the Bank continues its support aimed at enhancing the resilience of Türkiye’s agricultural production to climate change.

As an effective financing provider in the field of sustainable agriculture and food security, Ziraat Bank develops solutions in areas such as mitigating the impacts of climate change, climate adaptation, combating drought, protecting biodiversity, rural development, and agricultural R&D by diversifying its range of products and services. The Agricultural Banking strategy developed in this context is built upon the foundations of sustainable and accessible financing, a solution-oriented service approach, and strong communication.

By supporting agricultural entrepreneurship, cooperatives, and innovative production models, the Bank promotes both the continuity of agriculture and rural development. In particular, by developing dedicated financing mechanisms to ensure the active participation of young people and women in the agricultural ecosystem, Ziraat Bank assumes a significant catalytic role in the green transformation of the country’s agriculture.

In 2025, Ziraat Bank continued its financing activities aimed at supporting the sustainability of agricultural production across its environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and further reinforced this approach by increasing producers’ access to digital solutions through the Ziraat Farmer Platform.

In order to promote low-carbon agricultural production, financing was provided for renewable energy investments, organic and good agricultural practices, as well as biological and biotechnical pest control methods; moreover, contributions were made to enhancing the agricultural sector’s capacity to adapt to climate change through investments in pressurized irrigation systems, controlled-environment crop production, certified seedling and sapling production, and agricultural mechanization. In addition, loan disbursements for licensed warehousing and cold storage investments were continued in order to strengthen food supply security and reduce losses across the supply chain.

In line with its Agricultural Banking strategy based on a sustainable and accessible financing approach, the Bank regards the inclusion of different stakeholder groups-particularly young people and women-into the agricultural ecosystem as a strategic focus area. Within this framework, products and services are offered to enhance agricultural literacy, support agricultural entrepreneurship, promote cooperatives, strengthen agro-industry integration, and develop digital agricultural banking.

Financial Contribution to the Agricultural Value Chain

While continuing to provide financing support to the agricultural sector, Ziraat Bank carries out comprehensive efforts in line with combating climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural production. Within this scope, the Bank implements projects aimed at increasing water efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy in agriculture, strengthening food supply security, and facilitating access to finance, in cooperation with relevant Ministries, public institutions, organizations, and agricultural associations.

In particular, strengthening small-scale farmers’ direct access to finance-who are among the key actors of the agricultural value chain-is addressed as a priority area; accordingly, credit products are diversified and inclusive financing solutions are developed. In addition, loan disbursements for licensed warehousing and cold storage investments are continued in order to contribute to national food supply security and to support the reduction of losses and waste throughout the supply chain.

Ziraat Bank’s approach to the agricultural sector is shaped within the framework of support mechanisms aligned with the country’s overall economic objectives and strategic sector policies, with a focus on encouraging investments and promoting sustainability. Positioning the financing of agriculture as one of its core business areas, the Bank continues its leading role in the sector through growth in credit volume and innovative financing practices.

Among Ziraat Bank’s objectives in the agricultural sector are the following:

• Increasing production in controlled environments, in particular, in order to ensure an adequate and sustainable supply of agricultural products,
• Expanding the contract farming model to reduce producers’ agricultural input costs and market risks for their products,
• Increasing the production of products that will contribute to reducing imports,
• Supporting agricultural export investments that promote resource efficiency and value-added production in order to enhance the sustainability of the agricultural sector,
• Enabling agricultural enterprises to reach an economically viable scale,
• Utilizing idle production capacities,
• Increasing the level of agricultural mechanization of enterprises,
• Expanding the use of pressurized irrigation systems that provide significant water savings in agricultural irrigation,
• Promoting the use of technology to increase productivity in agriculture,
• Supporting investment projects that will create value added in agricultural production and respond to national needs, as well as investments and activities aimed at enhancing agricultural R&D and bio-agriculture and increasing the capacity of agricultural enterprises-particularly through licensed warehousing and cold storage investments-to store, process, package, and market their own products.

Loans Transferred from Ziraat Bank Resources to the Agricultural Sector

Ziraat Bank continues to provide financing support to the agricultural sector through a holistic approach that encompasses all links of the agricultural value chain. Within this scope, close cooperation is maintained with relevant Ministries, public institutions and organizations, and agricultural associations, while priority is given to efforts aimed at diversifying agricultural credit products.

In line with its agricultural banking strategy structured around the principles of sustainable and accessible financing, solution orientation, and strong communication, the Bank aims to include young people and women in the agricultural ecosystem, promote value-added production, and contribute to price formation and stability in agricultural products. Accordingly, products and services are offered to enhance agricultural literacy and agricultural entrepreneurship, support cooperatives, strengthen agriculture-industry integration, and expand digital agricultural banking. As it has since its establishment, Ziraat Bank continues to provide the necessary financial support to the agricultural sector and farmers.

Contract farming, controlled-environment crop production, increasing the production of products that will contribute to reducing imports, enabling agricultural enterprises to reach an economically viable scale, utilizing idle production capacities, and increasing the level of agricultural mechanization are among the Bank’s targeted production areas. In this context, through loans extended within the framework of contract farming-which offers a planned, secure, and sustainable financing model in agricultural production-the facilitation of production opportunities, the guaranteed and sustainable supply of products, and the safeguarding of supply-demand balance in agricultural production are supported.

To increase productivity in agriculture, financing is provided for activities aimed at expanding the use of technology, supporting investment projects that will create value added in agricultural production and respond to national needs, and enhancing the storage, processing, packaging, and marketing capacities of agricultural enterprises - particularly through licensed warehousing and cold storage investments.

In 2025, Ziraat Bank extended agricultural loans to more than 684 thousand customers for the financing of the agricultural sector. Of these customers, 61 thousand were new customers and were included in the agricultural loan portfolio during the year. As of year-end, the outstanding balance of agricultural loans reaching TL 831 billion, while the number of customers with agricultural loans surpassed 924 thousand.

Ziraat Bank’s agricultural loan portfolio predominantly consists of investment and working capital loans, and through these loans, the Bank continued in 2025 to contribute to combating climate change, reducing drought risk, protecting biodiversity, ensuring food security, supporting rural development, and promoting agricultural R&D activities. In addition, producers’ access to digital solutions and banking services was facilitated through the Ziraat Farmer Platform.

Moreover, in 2025, the Bank intermediated the extension of financing to the agricultural sector through resources provided by various institutions. Through these on-lent loans, access to finance for a large number of producers was supported and the sustainability of agricultural activities was strengthened.

Ziraat Bank’s activities in the agricultural sector are carried out in alignment with the country’s economic objectives and agricultural policies. With its producer-focused approach, innovative loan products, and strong growth performance, the Bank maintained its leading position in agricultural financing in 2025, continuing to regard agriculture not merely as an area of activity but as one of its core business lines and a strategic priority.

Interest Support from the Treasury for Agricultural Loans

In line with the “Decision on Treasury Interest-Supported Loans for Agricultural Production,” which was published at the end of 2023 and covers the 2024-2026 period, and the Communiqué issued for the implementation of this Decision, Ziraat Bank continues to extend Treasury interest-subsidized loans to its customers operating in the agricultural sector within the framework of the discount rates determined on the basis of production areas.

Financial Support for the Transition to Value-Added Production Through Agriculture Based Industry-Producer Cooperation

Contract Farming
As of the end of 2025, within the scope of financing contract farming activities carried out by Ziraat Bank with 26 companies and producers operating in areas such as crop production, seed production, broiler chicken farming, breeder poultry farming, pepper and tomato production, and sugar beet cultivation, the total outstanding loan balance amounts to TL 3.3 billion. Contract farming loans are considered to support the transition to value-added production by strengthening cooperation between agro-based industry and producers, while also making significant contributions to supply chain continuity and food supply security.

Processing of Agricultural Products
As of the end of 2025, the total outstanding balance of loans extended to provide the financing required in the processes of processing milk and dairy products, fruits, vegetables, aquaculture products, medicinal and aromatic plants, and organic agricultural products into value-added products amounted to TL 4.2 billion. The financing provided within this scope is considered to support the transition to value-added production by strengthening cooperation between agro-based industry and producers, and to make a positive contribution to food supply security.

Licensed Warehousing
In 2025, loan disbursements continued under the licensed warehousing system, which aims to ensure that agricultural products are classified in accordance with standards, securely stored in facilities with modern infrastructure, and traded through warehouse receipts. This system enables the classification and quality assessment of storable agricultural products by authorized laboratories, the storage of products in licensed warehouses, and the trading of ownership via warehouse receipts on specialized commodity exchanges. As of 2025, the total outstanding balance of licensed warehousing loans amounted to TL 8.2 billion, while the outstanding balance of loans extended against Electronic Warehouse Receipts (EWRs), which represent ownership of stored products, stood at TL 474 million.

Cold Storage Investments
In 2025, financing support was provided for new cold storage investments and the modernization of existing facilities in order to increase the storage and preservation capacities of fruit and vegetable producers and agricultural organizations. Within this scope, the total outstanding balance of loans extended amounted to TL 507 million as of 2025.

2025 Financial Support for the Transition to Value-Added Production Through Agriculture Based Industry-Producer Cooperation

Strengthening Rural Development and Production Capacity in Livestock

Within the scope of the “I Have Many Reasons to Live in My Village” projects, loan disbursements were continued to support agricultural entrepreneurship, expand business scales, and bring idle capacity into production; moreover, the “Abundance in the Countryside - Support for Livestock”.

I Have Many Reasons to Live in My Village

Small Ruminant Project
Ziraat Bank launched the “I Have Many Reasons to Live in My Village” project in the fourth quarter of 2020 with the aim of supporting the small ruminant livestock sector and contributing to rural development.

Within the scope of the project, it aims to:

• Expand the scale of enterprises engaged in small ruminant livestock farming,
• Bring idle production capacities back into use,
• Support regional development by promoting the dissemination of small domestic ruminant breeds,
• Increase demand for domestically born female animals in order to both create a market and reduce animal imports,
• Diversify financial solution alternatives for small enterprises.

As of 2025, the credit limits available under the project increased from TL 600,000 to TL 1,200,000 and the period for benefiting from the project was extended until 31 December 2026.

Cattle Project
In order to support producers engaged in dairy cattle farming, Ziraat Bank launched the “I Have Many Reasons to Live in My Village - Cattle Project” as of October 2022. Within the scope of the project, cooperation protocols are signed between Ziraat Bank and the Central Unions and Head Offices of agricultural producer organizations, and loan disbursements continued throughout 2025.

As of the end of 2025, the number of producers provided with loans under this project reached 1,600, while the total amount of loans disbursed amounted to TL 1.2 billion.

Within the scope of the project, it aims to:

• Expand the operating scale of producers engaged in dairy cattle farming through efficient and high-quality animal breeds,
• Increase financial solution alternatives for small-scale enterprises,
• Bring idle production capacities back into use,
• Increase demand for domestically born female animals and create a sustainable market for surplus female animals in existing dairy enterprises,
• And contribute to the reduction of animal imports.

Abundance in the Countryside - Support for Livestock Project

Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, the Abundance in the Countryside - Support for Livestock Project aims to ensure sustainability in red meat supply by supporting the livestock sector and strengthening family-run enterprises in rural areas. Within the scope of the project, it is aimed to increase the production of beef-breed breeding stock and to meet the need for fattening material through domestic resources.

Under the project carried out under the coordination of the General Directorate of Livestock (HAYGEM), beef-breed pregnant heifers procured by the TİGEM are provided to producers, and livestock is delivered in numbers determined based on the qualifications of the producer. Producers benefiting from the project are able to make use of subsidized loan facilities provided by Ziraat Bank, with loan repayments structured with a grace period of up to 2 years and total maturities of 5 or 7 years.

Under the project carried out under the coordination of the General Directorate of Livestock (HAYGEM), beef-breed pregnant heifers procured by the TİGEM are provided to producers, and livestock is delivered in numbers determined based on the qualifications of the producer. Producers benefiting from the project are able to make use of subsidized loan facilities provided by Ziraat Bank, with loan repayments structured with a grace period of up to 2 years and total maturities of 5 or 7 years.

Agricultural Ecosystem Financing

Increasing the number of young and women producers in the agricultural sector and encouraging these groups is of significant importance in terms of sustainable agriculture, economic growth, and social development. In many countries where the agricultural sector is faced with an aging population, the participation of young producers in agriculture is critical for the continuity and renewal of the sector.

In line with the importance attributed to increasing the number of young and women producers in the agricultural sector for sectoral continuity and rural development, loans amounting to TL 172.3 billion were extended to young farmers and TL 54.4 billion to women farmers in 2025. In order to support the transition to value-added production and to foster a culture of cooperation, the Producer Cooperative and Women Producer Cooperative loan products continued to be actively utilized in 2025.

In addition, in 2025, through the My Business is Ziraat Loan, which is offered to meet financing needs for dairy cattle farming and greenhouse fruit and vegetable production, support continued to be provided to strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship, create new income and employment opportunities for young people and women, promote sustainable rural development, and increase the production capacities of agricultural enterprises so that they can operate more efficiently and at an economically viable scale.

Within this framework, through the Producer Financing System implemented at Ziraat Bank in line with the “Financing the Agricultural Ecosystem” approach, it is aimed to develop direct product trade between agricultural producers and buyers, reduce the impact of intermediaries in the supply chain on final product price formation, and contribute to more reasonable product purchase prices-and consequently consumer prices-by providing maturity advantages to buyers.

In 2025, Ziraat Bank:
Continued to provide Agricultural Electricity Loans to irrigation unions, irrigation cooperatives, and real and legal person agricultural producers. This type of loan contributes to the sustainability of agricultural production by enabling producers to pay their accumulated and/or current electricity bills regularly. Under this credit program, a total of TL 2.9 billion in financing was provided to over 4,000 customers.

4th Agricultural Ecosystem Meeting

Organized by Ziraat Bank under the motto “Our Business is Agriculture, Our Strength is Agriculture,” the fourth “Ziraat Bank Agricultural Ecosystem Meeting” was held on June 28, 2025. was held with the participation of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our Minister of Treasury and Finance Mr. Mehmet Şimşek, Ziraat Bank General Manager Mr. Alpaslan Çakar, Bank Board Members, and numerous industry stakeholders. Over two thousand industry representatives attended the event, which attracted significant interest from the agriculture, finance, and policy sectors and received extensive coverage in the written and visual media.

Within the scope of the meeting, sessions were held on “Family Farming from Generation to Generation,” “Climate Change and Adaptation of Agricultural Production in Türkiye,” and “Cooperatives in Agriculture and Rural Development,” where panelists shared current developments in the sector, best practices, and visions for the future.

The event saw broad participation from all regions of Türkiye and served as an important platform for knowledge sharing, experience transfer, and the development of new partnerships.