Kirişci met with Ankara representatives of media organizations at the Ministry and evaluated the Ministry’s 2022 activities and 2023 targets. Explaining that the world has been faced with many crises such as the Kovid-19 epidemic and the Russia-Ukraine War, which deeply affected humanity for 2 years, Minister Kirişci stated that the global problems in the supply of food products during the epidemic evolved into a new process with war. Kirişci stated that the disruption in the shipping channels of the two countries, which are in the most important position in terms of grain supply, made it difficult to supply products such as sunflower and fertilizer as well as grain, and said: As of January 8, 16.9 million tons of grain and food products were transported through the grain corridor by 633 ships, 53.6% of this grain to European countries, 28.2 percent to Asian countries, and 12.2% to African countries. countries, 6.1 percent to Middle East countries.Wheat and sunflower oil going to countries in the UN’s least developed countries category was 915 thousand 699 tons and proportionally 5.4 percent. This corridor is only for international cereals and It not only stabilized the fertilizer markets but also went down in history as Turkey’s diplomatic success.” Stressing that agriculture is a strategic sector and food is a matter of national security, Kirişci stated that they provided 40.4 billion liras of agricultural support to farmers in 2022 with the slogan “You produce is enough” with the new vision of agriculture. Kirişci stated that they increased the crop production by 9.1 percent compared to 2021, from 118.4 million tons to 128.6 million tons, and with this figure, they broke the production record of all time. “We will close 2022 with around 30 billion dollars of agricultural exports” Minister Kirişci stated that Turkey maintains its identity as a net exporter country in agriculture in 2022, and that the agricultural sector has exported 26.8 billion dollars as of the end of November, “We will close the year 2022 with agricultural exports of around 30 billion dollars with the clarity of December figures. We will break a new record in this field by increasing our aquaculture exports to 1.5 billion dollars.” said. Kirişci underlined that they started to use the 8.6 billion lira diesel and fertilizer support, which was due to be paid to 1 million 152 thousand farmers in March this year, as of November 2022. stated that it will be used. Kirişci said that they have increased the amount of interest-free loans given by Ziraat Bank and Agricultural Credit Cooperatives from 100 thousand liras to 200 thousand liras, and said that 100 thousand liras of this can be used in kind for the purchase of diesel and fertilizer. Noting that they gave a grant of 1.8 billion liras to farmers in 2022 within the scope of IPARD projects, Kirişci stated that they also provided a grant of 966 million liras with the Rural Development Investments Support Project and the Agricultural-Based Economic Investments Support Programme. Noting that they provided 101 million lira grant support with the Expert Hands Project, and that they secured 276.3 billion liras of agricultural assets by insuring within the scope of TARSİM, Kirişci stated that they paid 3.6 billion liras of damage compensation to producers and breeders. “TÜRKŞEKER and ÇAYKUR closed 2022 with operational profit” Vahit Kirişci pointed out that the regulation bodies took on more tasks in 2022 and said, “Our two distinguished institutions, TÜRKŞEKER and ÇAYKUR, both prevented the fluctuations in market prices, realized this with timely, appropriate and adequate interventions, and closed the year 2022 with operational profits thanks to our correct policies. “These were loss-making organizations. This was a first on the record. We will see this proud picture with the announcement of the balance sheets in the coming days.” made its assessment. Kirişci announced that the number of registered farmers exceeded 2 million 176 thousand 551 last year and reached 2 million 190 thousand as of now. “We aim to strengthen our air fleet in the fight against forest fires” Minister Kirişci stated that they provided 531 million lira grant and zero-interest loan support to 10 thousand 418 forest villagers and 9 agricultural development cooperatives within the scope of the activities of the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM), and informed that they contributed 5 billion 192 million liras to forest villagers employed in forestry works. Explaining that they established 60 honey forests to further strengthen the beekeeping sector, Kirişci said that they produced 257 million saplings of 610 different species, they carried out afforestation and erosion control works on an area of 100 thousand hectares, they planted 525 million saplings in the areas damaged by forest fires, and in 2022, they declared the “Century of Turkey”. He reminded that they brought 4.2 million saplings together with the soil on November 11, National Afforestation Day, which they performed with the theme of “Breath to You”. Stressing that they have strengthened their air fleet in the fight against forest fires with domestic and national means, Kirişci continued his words as follows: “Thus, we have created the largest air fleet in the history of our Republic in the fight against forest fires with 20 aircraft, 55 helicopters and 8 UAVs. Produced by TAI and Sikorsky, we have created the largest air fleet in the night mission. We took delivery of our Sikorsky helicopter, which is capable of performing and owning.In one year, 4 amphibious tanker aircraft and 1 air management aircraft equipped with mission systems that provide high-resolution images and produce digital maps will be included in our fleet. “We aim to strengthen our fleet by including our national Gökbey helicopters and 16 more aircraft in our inventory. We have become the first European country to use UAV technology in the protection of forests and to establish a UAV base station. Thanks to this, we can instantly scan an area of 3.5 million hectares.” “The slaughterhouse part of Yusufeli will begin to submerge on January 29” Expressing that they have built 62 dams, 19 ponds, dams and 10 hydroelectric power plants within the scope of the activities of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI), one of the most rooted institutions of Turkey, Kirişci said an investment of 34.4 billion liras for Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant Project, one of the symbols of the Century of Turkey. He explained that with this investment, they built not only a dam, but also roads, residences, workplaces and social facilities. Expressing that they have put Yusufeli Dam and HEPP at the service of the nation, Kirişci said, “The slaughterhouse part of Yusufeli will begin to be under water on January 29.” said. Expressing that the world population will reach 10 billion and Turkey’s population will reach 100 million in 2050, Minister Kirişci emphasized that a 67 percent increase in production is needed in 2050 compared to today, in order to meet the world’s food needs. Pointing out that the amount of water owned must increase by 65 percent in order to realize this production, Kirişci said: “If we want to feed the growing population and have a say in agriculture, we have to make production planning. With this model, for which we have determined the roadmap, we aim to ensure supply security and establish availability by supporting our farmers. One of the most important pillars of this is Urban Agriculture. We have reached the final stage in our work on Urban Agriculture. Here we are preparing a 3-year action plan in the first place. Short and long We will soon share our action plan, which includes our long-term activities, projects and supports.” Grant support will be increased to 250 thousand liras in the Expert Hands Project Kirişci stated that they will expand the existing agricultural insurance, including the provision of income protection guarantee to the producers, and stated that the Income Protection Insurance, which was started to be implemented in three districts of Konya, will be expanded throughout the country as of the next production season. Expressing that they will benefit more from TARSİM by applying premium discounts to young and female farmers, Kirişci emphasized that putting into service village life centers and projects that will ensure the welfare of young people and women in rural areas are among their priorities. Kirişci stated that they will continue their investments to return to the countryside and that the number of village life centers has reached 2 thousand 200 and they will increase this number even more. Kirişci stated that they provide grants and support to young people on many topics to enable them to produce in rural areas, “I am sharing this here for the first time. I would like to announce that we will increase our grant support from 100 thousand liras to 250 thousand liras with the Expert Hands Project for our young farmers, if our President approves. ” said. Stating that they will expand IPARD projects, which are limited to 42 provinces, to 81 cities, Kirişci made the following assessment: “Unfortunately, the opposition in our country is far from understanding these projects, as they are always focused on destroying rather than building. When they say, ‘Let’s employ them in their own workplaces in the fields of fisheries, veterinary and forestry’, they object without listening. ‘Do you want to make our children shepherds?’ “If we can’t attract our young people to agricultural production, who will produce in the future, who will feed our population that will exceed 100 million? Will we order food from abroad for 100 million tourists?” Kirişci stated that they will continue to increase support for small family businesses, bring the unproduced lands into production, intervene in the vacant lands as the Ministry and rent them to those who want to produce. Minister Kirişci said, “Because it requires changes in many issues, especially property law, the framework and scope of this vision project will be shaped by a change in law with the discretion of our deputies.” used the phrases. 1,273 contracted personnel will be recruited to DSI Stating that they will continue to strengthen their human resources in 2023, Minister Kirişci concluded his words as follows: “We shared that we will recruit 1,200 contracted personnel in different branches and positions to be assigned in the provincial organization of our Ministry, and that we will recruit 1,613 personnel for the central and provincial organization of our General Directorate of Forestry. State “I would like to announce that we will be recruiting personnel to our General Directorate of Water Affairs. We will recruit 1,273 contracted personnel in various branches to be assigned within the body of DSI. Thus, in the coming days, we will employ nearly 6,000 new personnel within the body of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.”
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