Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Bekir Pakdemirli attended the opening of the MUSIAD Smart Agriculture City Project via video conferencing.
Minister Pakdemirli, who started his speech in the program by wishing that this project, which is an important model for agriculture and rural development, will bring good luck to our country, emphasized that MUSIAD is doing serious studies and carrying out important projects especially in the field of agriculture and rural development.
Underlining that the Smart Agricultural City Project, which was introduced today, is also a result of these efforts, Pakdemirli said, “This project, which shows that the future of our country is agriculture and offers new opportunities to our youth and entrepreneurs; I would like to express my gratitude once again to everyone who adds value and contributes.
"THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR HAS BEEN GROWING IN ALL QUARTERS FOR 2 YEARS"
Minister Pakdemirli stated that after the pandemic, competence in the agricultural sector and the phenomenon of domestic and national production left their mark as follows:
During this period, while shelves remained empty in many countries, basic needs could not be met, thankfully we did not encounter any difficulties in the agriculture-food sector in our country. Because Turkey meet their needs beyond, a country capable of producing power. Our agricultural product increased by 45%, reaching 275 Billion Liras. Agricultural product is also the leader in Europe, we are in the top 10 in the world. Our agricultural exports increased by 1 Billion Dollars in two years to 18 Billion Dollars. In the first 8 months of this year, our agricultural and food exports increased by 6,4% compared to the same period of the previous year. With the Presidential Government System, the agricultural sector has been growing for 2 years in all quarters. In the last quarter of 2020 growth figures announced by TURKSTAT, agriculture has grown by 2%, ahead of many sectors ”.
"WE ARE IN A HIGHLY GOOD POINT IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECTOR"
Minister Pakdemirli, who stated that they implemented important projects and support programs to increase investments in rural areas and to increase the participation of young people and women in the agricultural sector, said: “We do not tolerate the division of agricultural lands by inheritance and becoming inefficient. We take our measures. By taking the plains with high production potential under special protection, we prevent the degradation of the land due to misuse. Usage rate in modern irrigation techniques; We increased it from 6 percent to 28 percent. We are now setting up all irrigation investments in a modern and closed system. We expanded greenhouse agriculture to 72 provinces of the country. Thus, greenhouse products; It has become an important source of production and export for our country. Again, our country is a net exporter in fruits and vegetables. As you can see, wherever you look, we are at a very good point in the food and agriculture sector.
"WE LOOK AT ALL INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE AND RURAL IN A VERSATILE, EMPLOYMENT ORIENTED, WELFARE BASED, INCOME TARGETED"
Minister Pakdemirli stated that when we look at the civilizations in history, it is seen that agriculture has been practiced in an integrated manner with cities for centuries, and continued as follows:
“We even know that the first cities emerged due to excess production from agriculture and market economy. Since the 20th century, agriculture has begun to disappear in cities and has been an activity carried out in the countryside. Increasing migration to the cities over time, aging of the agricultural population in the countryside has emerged as a problem in front of sustainable production. While taking our precautions in this regard, we consider the pandemic period as an opportunity for agriculture and rural development. We have to make the best use of this opportunity and strengthen this sector with new investments. Of course, investment is important in the countryside. But it is not right to look at the issue only as an investment. If we consider the subject in a way that will increase the life level in the countryside, improve educational opportunities and meet social needs; Then we can make agriculture more efficient and the countryside more attractive. This project, which MUSIAD is promoting today, is included in the subject right from this point. As the Ministry, we look at all investments in agriculture and rural areas as versatile, employment-oriented, welfare-based and income-oriented. Although the subjects and application places of the works and projects we do are different, when we look at the main photo, all these works; We see agriculture and rural areas as a part of development steps ”.
"WE GIVEN 11.552 BILLION LIRA TO 3,1 PROJECTS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT AREA"
Referring to the studies carried out in the field of rural development, Minister Pakdemirli said, “Within the scope of economic investments; We donated 11.552 billion TL to 3,1 projects and provided employment to approximately 100 thousand people. We extended the implementation period of this project for 2025 years until 5. Under IPARD; We have paid 16.569 billion lira grant for a total of 4,3 projects and provided 70 new jobs to date. Within the scope of Uzman Eller project, which started as a pilot last year; We offer a grant of 100 thousand lira for new investments to our graduates from any department in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry. With the support of ORKÖY; Since 2003, we have supported a total of 240 thousand projects with TL 3,4 billion. We continue to work within the scope of land acquisition practices for the efficient operation of agricultural enterprises and the development of Land Banking accordingly. Within the scope of TARSİM; We have secured over 1 billion Liras of agricultural assets with 3,7 million agricultural insurance policies in the last 100 year. 2,4 billion lira premium support and 1,9 billion lira damage compensation were paid. "We have increased the number of our projects in Specialized Organized Industrial Zone Based on Agriculture from 23 to 41".
"WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL ACCESS IN AGRICULTURE"
Emphasizing the importance of the word smart in MUSIAD's Smart Agriculture City Project, Pakdemirli says, “It points to knowledge, technology and innovation. Nowadays, where information and technology is the biggest advantage, we have to increase the use of technology and digital access in agriculture. We must strengthen the technological infrastructure of our agricultural enterprises and reach a level that can compete with the world countries. Especially last year, we received more than 15 thousand suggestions at the 3rd AGRICULTURAL FOREST COUNCIL, which was held 50 years later under the auspices of our President. We created our 5-year plans by evaluating all these ideas, and prepared a road map that will shed light on 25 years. One of the focal points within the scope of the council is; It was "Digitalization in Agriculture". In this context, we started new projects on Digital Transformation in Agriculture and smart agriculture applications ”.
Stating that they signed a cooperation protocol with Gebze Technical University on Smart Agriculture Practices at the beginning of this month, within the framework of the cooperation protocols signed with YÖK, Pakdemirli said, “We started to use smart agriculture applications at every stage of production. This technology will save up to 50% in labor usage, increase fertilizer use efficiency from 20-40% to 60%, use plant protection pesticides 30% less, and increase productivity by 20-25% with the use of certified seeds. In short, we create a more efficient and environmentally friendly production structure with less input use. From this point of view, technological applications that make production efficient and rural areas stronger will be at the forefront in MUSIAD's Intelligent Agricultural City Project. We will make all the necessary contributions in this regard, ”he said.
"IN THE FUTURE, PROJECTS LIKE SMART AGRICULTURAL CITIES WILL BE AT THE FOREFRONT"
Minister Pakdemirli said that in 2050, the world population is expected to exceed 10 billion and the population of our country to exceed 100 million. “We have to produce 60% more food to feed the increasing population. However, this food, ie the increase in production; We have to do it with big problems such as diminishing water resources, climate change and global warming. During the pandemic, the concepts of food nationalism and domestic production came to the fore. Closing the borders and cutting off the exports of the countries made domestic and sufficient production indispensable. Here we will feel stronger in the future. In the future, projects of MÜSİAD such as AKILLI TARIM KENT will be at the forefront. Therefore, I would like to express that we, as the Ministry, are open to all kinds of cooperation and that we are very pleased with this project of MUSIAD ”.
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