Third-Generation Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Program
Third Generation Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Programme
Rising average age in the agricultural sector is emerging as one of the biggest obstacles to sustainability in farming.
Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association is launching the "Third Generation Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Programme" to attract young people to the agricultural sector.
The opening meeting of the "Third Generation Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Programme" was held under the auspices of Hayrettin Uçak, Chair of the Board of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association.
The opening meeting was attended by Cahit Doğan Yağcı, Chair of Aegean Furniture, Paper and Forest Products Exporters Association, Cengiz Balık, Vice Chair of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, Board Members Sadık Demircan, H. Vural Güleç, Türkmen Türkmenoğlu, Mehmet Kırıcı and Audit Committee Member Aydın Yıldırım.
Hayrettin Uçak, Chair of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, said: "We believe that through the work our young people will undertake, they will take Turkey's agriculture to higher levels, and we want you to know that we trust you. Our country has tremendous potential with 38,000 hectares of agricultural land including pasture and meadow areas and annual production of 55 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables. To utilise this potential more efficiently, to increase our exports and to find new markets, our agricultural sector greatly needs the energy of the new generation. In the Voluntary Harvest Project we conducted together with Konak District Department of Agriculture and Forestry in 2021 with the participation of young people, we all witnessed the light in our young people's eyes and their determination." He added.
EYMSİB to Begin Training on 5 March
Mentioning that the work, enthusiasm and happiness of the young people involved in the Harvest Project in the orchards were extremely positive and inspiring, Uçak continued: "At the beginning of this year, when Prof. Dr. Meltem Onay came to us with the idea of raising a new generation that is climate-conscious and aware, as an Association we felt great enthusiasm and quickly began work with our stakeholders to prepare the Third Generation Agricultural Entrepreneurship Training Programme lasting 6 weeks. We are starting our training on 5 March. In this programme, we have provided our young people with a training curriculum that covers the processes necessary for sustainable agriculture, instilling consciousness and raising awareness." He stated.
Training Programme Receives Strong Interest
Hayrettin Uçak: "We received over 120 applications from many parts of Turkey and selected 50 young people for our first training programme. There is much work to be done for our agricultural sector, especially our fresh fruit and vegetable sector, to reach the levels we desire, and we know we will reach this level with our young people and we trust them. This project is a beginning for us and by repeating this programme at certain periods of the year, we want to reach as many young people as we can. I hope that with this programme we can create awareness nationwide and enable it to spread across the country." He said.
Hayrettin Uçak extended his thanks for the effort and contributions of project partners; to Cemre Movement founded by Prof. Dr. Meltem Onay, to Sügep Academy, to Aegean University, İzmir Economics University, İzmir Institute of Technology and İzmir Provincial Department of Agriculture and Forestry for their cooperation, and to trainers and academics, concluding his remarks.
Eskinazi: Sustainable Agriculture Directly Linked to EYMSİB's Project
Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator Chair of Aegean Exporters Associations, said: "In past years we were one of the rare countries in the world that was self-sufficient, now we have started to meet our needs through imports. We can reverse this picture. From farm to table, we waste one-third of the food. We produce but cannot add value. We cannot get it to those in need. The aim is not just to produce, but logistics, cold storage facilities, processing—this is a major process. Sustainability in agriculture, planning, and the proper execution of all processes are directly proportional to EYMSİB's project." He said.
With Our Young People's Innovative Thinking, Turkey Will Reach a Leading Position in Agriculture
Drawing attention to the Agricultural Specialised Organised Industrial Zones being established in Dikili, Kınık, Bayındır and Bergama, Eskinazi concluded his remarks as follows: "The Dikili Agricultural Specialised Organised Industrial Zone being established in northern İzmir is one of the largest Agricultural OIZs. It will go into production soon. While we are doing these things, we need young people like you. Holland, in a small area, controls food for all of Europe. We need to rise above traditional farming. With our young people's innovative thinking and together with our markets, we want to become once again a self-sufficient country on a global scale, one that directs products in Europe and worldwide and balances prices." He said.
