45 thousand people have benefited from the rural development grant programs offered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and UNDP in Konya and Karaman since 2016

Investment activities realized with the grant programs offered by the "Goksu Taseli Watershed Development Project", which set out with the aim of supporting rural development in Turkey through strengthening agricultural productivity and market access, was examined on-site by a delegation of representatives from the partners of the initiative, namely International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Efforts to reduce rural poverty have been carried on with the support of the local public authorities since 2016, covering 238 villages in 11 districts of Konya and Karaman provinces. The region has an important place in terms of agricultural development studies, as it has a rich agro-ecological diversity, and the local community have succeeded in making the transition to semi-commercial production and have a productive structure that resists migration. Within the scope of activities that support economic diversity in agriculture, calls for grants are made at certain periods in this region, and business opportunities that turn into new investments are supported to increase the income level of the local community.

45,340 people have benefited from the grant programs so far within the scope of development activities carried out for the region. Individual grant supports were given to 218 farmers in 12 different investments in Konya and Karaman. In the project, where a support package was developed for the very poor and poor communities, farmers who started contracted sage cultivation were registered in DİTAP, the Digital Agriculture Market of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with the aim to solve the existing market problem.

A delegation visit was made to the field between 2-5 November 2021, within the framework of the Annual Supervision Mission Meetings of the development activities carried out in the Göksu Taşeli Watershed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in cooperation with UNDP with the financial support of IFAD. Head of Department of Research and Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. A. Sule Ozevren, IFAD Turkey Director Bernard Hien, Targeting and Gender Specialist Chiqui Arigui conducted investigations in Konya and Karaman provinces to see the current practices and progress. Individual and village-based investments and economic investment projects were examined on site during the field visits with the participation of IFAD Projects Coordinator Muhyettin Sirer from UNDP Turkey and experts in charge of the initiative.

Among the facilities established with individual grant support within the scope of the project, Suleymaniye Solar Irrigation System in Akoren and Bozkir districts of Konya, Bozkir Honey Packing Facility, Dereici Solar Energy Irrigation System Conversion System, mushroom and vegetable greenhouses, sage production fields, Aybasti Solar Powered Drinking Water Facility Systems in Karaman, Elmayurdu-Tepebasi-Boyalik Solar Cold Storage, Zengen Solar Powered Drinking Water Facility, portable solar energy systems and barns, shepherd's shelters, animal health and welfare centers and Basyayla Yoruk Pazari were locations visited by the delegation where negotiations were made with the producers and cooperative members.

Activities which include targets and policies aimed at improving the quality of life in cities and rural areas and reducing interregional development disparities are carried out in accordance with the 11th Development Plan and the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for the period 2019-2023. The current results of the supported investments create a promising picture for the region in terms of increasing agricultural productivity, encouraging farmer participation, and developing strong market linkages in the future.