The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli (PhD) who went to Kilis to conduct a series of investigations and contacts, participated to the sector meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the participation of representatives of agriculture and forestry.
Minister Bekir Pakdemirli, agriculture and forestry sector evaluation meeting held at the end of the meeting of the base, problems and demands about the city were discussed said the meeting was fruitful.
Pakdemirli stated that the demands will be met within the framework of the possibilities, and emphasized that Kilis should be discriminated against because it hosts more Syrian guests than its own population.
Pakdemirli stated that within the scope of "Our Heritage Ata Seed Project", they included products such as tomato grown without water to be sold in the chain stores and he continued his words:
"Kilis is very rich in geography. We also have a variety of rich products in terms of biodiversity in the city. We've examined all the products of Kilis. I've instructed TİGEM on the breeding of the Kilis goat. We need to grant the goats that are unique to this region, and we need to keep this work going with cost calculations. We will continue to support it as a ministry. More people have to come to Kilis, Gaziantep and Hatay to eat because our cuisine is the most delicious cuisine that comes at the top of the world's cuisine. We need to fund the promotion. This is the only way we can contribute to the economy of the region and the economy of our city."
Minister Pakdemirli pointed out that the ministry will give the necessary support about branding and mentioned that it is important to sell the olive oil produced in the region at better value.
CONSUMPTION OF SHEEP AND GOAT INCREASED
Expressing that the consumption of sheep and goat has increased in the last year in Turkey Pakdemirli said, this situation has satisfied them, "because small meat, indeed more delicious and healthier, we have a general direction to increase the population of sheep and goat in Turkey as it is much easier than cattle ".
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Pakdemirli, made the following assessments:
"Therefore, Turkey's self-sufficiency in terms of meat production ecosystem on sheep and goat is very sensible. In this regard, especially the statements of opinion leaders and the people who lead the society in this direction are very pleasing us in the recent period. I think this will continue in Kilis as well. In fact, Kilis has become one of our important sheep and goat production places. There is almost no cattle production here."
TOTAL CONSOLIDATION NOW EXCEEDS 4 MILLION HECTARES
Referring to land consolidation, Pakdemirli stated that they have achieved very serious results in this regard, "total consolidation has now passed 4 million hectares. Now we have done the tender of 8 million 200 thousand hectares. Our ultimate goal is already 8.5 million hectares of land that is when we tender 300 thousand hectares, we'll be able to say we have finished consolidations in Turkey", he said.
Minister Pakdemirli emphasized that there may be wrong practices from time to time, "whatever needed; the second consolidation, the consolidation of correction, all of these have to be done in a way. From time to time, there may be some dissatisfaction with the lack of efforts in the land, but the main goal in consolidation is to combine productivity and our parcels. In that sense, I want to say that we care about consolidation and we will continue to do so from now on," he said.
Pakdemirli pointed out that very important investments have been made in the city, by institutions related to the ministry, and said that irrigation ponds, dams and transmission lines have been built.
Pakdemirli added that they consider appropriate to establish the Union of Grape Producers in Kilis according to the demands at the meeting.
Minister Pakdemirli also toured the manufacturers ' regional products booth within the scope of the program.