Buğday Association: Hatay Farmers Are Protecting Their Soil

The number of farmers participating in the Regenerative Transformation in Agricultural Production Project being carried out by Buğday Ekolojik Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği in Hatay is growing. The number of farmers participating in the project, which aims to repair soil, protect biodiversity, and create economically and ecologically resilient examples, has reached 120.

The second phase of the "Regenerative Transformation in Agricultural Production Project" launched by Buğday Ekolojik Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği in Hatay to promote sustainable agricultural production, improve farmer welfare, and lay the foundations for unmediated access to healthy food began with an information meeting for newly applying farmers. 

Since January 2024, Buğday Derneği has been providing training and consulting to farmers in different districts of Hatay on agroecology and regenerative farming methods, while also supporting farmers in transition to nature-friendly production in marketing their products.

Speaking at the information meeting held at Hatay Güneş Koleji Meeting Hall for farmers newly participating in the project, Oya Ayman, member of the Strategy Board of Buğday Derneği, stated that they aim for a regenerative transformation across all links of the chain from field to table in Hatay together with farmers committed to sustainable production.

Project Coordinator Karel Büyükgazel noted that together with pioneer farmers who participated in the first phase of the project, significant progress has been made both in growing healthy products that do not harm human and environmental health and in getting their products to consumers. Büyükgazel stated that in the coming period, they will continue to provide training and material support to newly participating farmers while also providing guidance, consulting, and marketing support to all participating farmers throughout their production processes.

Gökmen Ekiz, a farmer who has participated in regenerative farming training since January 2024 and transitioned to agroecological production, said "Our conditions, yields, seasons have changed so much that what we know is no longer enough for us," and continued: "I have been farming for 30 years. Since I joined the project, I have acquired very valuable knowledge. By applying this knowledge, this year I did not use any agricultural chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, so my expenses dropped significantly, and most importantly, I learned how to restore my soil to the vitality it had 15-20 years ago."

Dr. Gülay Beşirli, one of the project consultants, noted that agroecology is a life philosophy and stated: "When you embrace this philosophy, you will not only protect your soil, water, and biodiversity and keep pests under control, but you will also become stronger through the solidarity you build as a group in both production and marketing."

Buğday Derneği officials and pioneer farmers from the first phase provided information about the work they carried out in the project's first year and answered questions from newly participating farmers at the meeting. Representatives from Hatay Provincial Agriculture Directorate, agricultural chambers, cooperative representatives, and representatives of Türkiye İş Bankası Agricultural Banking, sponsor of the project's training and agricultural production, also attended the meeting.

Some of the farmers who participated in the first phase of the Regenerative Transformation in Agricultural Production project in Hatay and completed their training have completed their harvests, while others are continuing their production processes. The harvested products are processed by women's cooperatives in the region and offered for sale.

Buğday Derneği also provides marketing support for products produced within the project scope. The products of farmers in transition to agroecological production and the stories of producers can be accessed through the hatayicinbirlikte.org website.

From black wheat to pepper paste…
The project focuses on products prominent in Hatay's agricultural production and kitchen culture: black wheat bulgur and flour, pepper and tomato paste, dried tomato, pomegranate molasses, citrus fruits, medicinal and aromatic plants. Training that experts will provide to farmers growing these products will begin on 4 October. Training to be held in two regions, Samandağ and Antakya, will cover agroecology, soil restoration, water management, cultivation, disease and pest management, unmediated access to healthy food, community-supported agriculture, financial management, and digital marketing. In addition to the training to be provided within the project scope, field trips to demonstration areas will be organized and farmer-to-farmer experience transfer will take place.

Buğday Derneği, which works to promote agroecological production in Turkey, aims through the Regenerative Transformation in Agricultural Production project in Hatay to improve the welfare and production sustainability of regional farmers working to rebuild their lives and production following the earthquake, while creating an economically and ecologically resilient model applicable in Turkey's other regions in agricultural production and food supply systems.

In the project, which will continue until December 2025, farmer training and agricultural production activities are supported by Türkiye İş Bankası A.Ş. The project is also supported by İzel Levi Coşkun, member of Buğday Derneği, and BÜNSA Döküm A.Ş. ALD Automotive sponsors the project team's transportation.