STORY: Spring rains in Türkiye's Thrace region boost farmers' hopes: media
DATELINE: June 17, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:46
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of a dam used for irrigation in Türkiye
2. various of wheat harvest
3. various of Istanbul in Türkiye
4. various of a dam, whose water level has decreased due to a lack of seasonal rains in Istanbul, Türkiye

STORYLINE:

Above-average rainfall received across Türkiye's western Thrace region in the spring alleviated concerns about a continued drought in the country that would affect grain production, state media reported on Friday.

The cities of Edirne, Kiklareli and Tekirdag received more rainfall than average in the spring months, which increased water levels in lakes, ponds and dams, boosting hopes of farmers in the region after a dry autumn, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

If the region, a major breadbasket for the country, continues to receive a good amount of rainfall, its wheat crop yield is expected to be up by 25 percent, Anadolu reported, citing Kirklareli's Director of Agriculture and Forestry Mehmet Aksoy.

Türkiye's major cities, including Istanbul, were hit by severe drought due to the lack of rain last year.

Data from the Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration showed on Friday that dam filling rate stood at 46.26 percent, still below the seasonal normals of approximately 70 percent.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)