Mr. Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry visited some greenhouses, buffalo farms, mushroom facilities and agricultural fields during his programme in Istanbul.
Pakdemirli met with the farmers in the villages of Beykoz, Istanbul.
Highlights from the talks of Pakdemirli are as follows:
"Beykoz is a city which is suitable for agriculture and animal husbandry. It has a great potential with many opportunities. Greenhousing is an ever-growing sector in Turkey and Turkish Ziraat Bank (Ziraat means agriculture in Turkish) provides loan up to 7 years with the interest rate of 8.25 of which 2 years grace period.
People may face high prices during the winter season while the prices are moderately low during the summer time. Greenhousing may enable the price stabilization throughout the year.
We also need to increase added value from the honey production. I visited many areas of Turkey during my term and I observed that there are huge differences for the sales price of honey products. Demand exists both at domestic and international market when you produce good-quality honey. Chestnut honey can be used for healing. We can also develop this region as the center of natural products."
Pakdemirli also crossed the Riva river with boat and he was briefed about the Channel Riva projects.