Characterization of Karacadağ rice production system: Harmony of landscape and nature

Karacadağ rice is a local variety with significant genetic diversity, cultivated for centuries in the Karacadağ basin of South-eastern Anatolia (Türkiye) using traditional methods. The production system relies on basalt stone fields, minimal tillage, no chemical inputs, and irrigation with melted snow waters directed through natural channels. Harvesting is conducted manually using sickles. This rice variety has adapted to the region’s hot and arid climate, demonstrating resilience to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Key features of the Karacadağ Rice Production System include its harmony with natural flora, crop rotation practices, contribution to biodiversity, and alignment with the socio-cultural fabric of the region. The Karacadağ steppes are ecologically significant, hosting wild relatives of cultivated crops, including wheat, and supporting rich biodiversity. Additionally, the region’s cultural richness is enhanced by nomadic communities engaged in pastoralism. Preserving this production system contributes to maintaining agricultural biodiversity, protecting the natural environment, and safeguarding the socio-cultural heritage of the area. This study was conducted within the framework of the Management Plan for the Karacadağ Steppes, a pilot area of the ‘Conservation and Sustainable Management of Steppe Ecosystems in Turkey’ project (2017–2021) to support the sustainable conservation and management of the Karacadağ Rice Production System. Using the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) framework, the system was evaluated against five key criteria, major pressures and changing trends were identified, and inputs were provided for a management plan aimed at enhancing its resilience and sustainability under ongoing socio-economic and environmental change.