agriculture prospects sector overview turkey is a significant agricultural exporter in fruit and vegetables particular it major world producer net its levels of production currently amount to around 40 20 eu 25 respectively the arable crops terms for other competitive certain grain legumes such as chickpeas lentils cotton some qualities tobacco olive oil key importance both social economic s share turkish economy employment many times greater than average about 39 million hectares are devoted this represents 23 area has far richer endowment resources cultivable land availability water any middle eastern country roughly one third workforce employed represented 11 6 gnp current prices 2004 however developed declined relative industry services while