Young Farmers in Tekirdağ Produce with 75% Subsidy
· NTV Ekonomi
Young producers in Tekirdağ, benefiting from a 75% seedling subsidy from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, are increasing productivity in protected vegetable cultivation.
75% Support for Vegetable Cultivation in Tekirdağ
The Tekirdağ Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry continues its support efforts within the scope of Projects for the Effective Utilization of Agricultural Lands, aiming to increase vegetable production and encourage young farmers to engage in production. Within the framework of the "Let Vegetable Cultivation Flourish, Let Producers Smile" and "Bringing Young Farmers Back to Agriculture" projects, 75% of the seedling costs are covered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, while the remaining 25% is financed by the producer's contribution. Within the program, seedlings of summer vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, and winter vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce are distributed to producers, with the goal of increasing agricultural productivity in the region.
Childhood Passion Turned into Engineering Education
Producer Yasemin Güler Orhan, 38, who benefits from the ministry's support, has transformed her passion for agriculture, acquired from her agricultural engineer father during her childhood, into professional production. Although she is a graduate of food technology, the producer, Yasemin Güler Orhan, re-entered the university entrance exam and was accepted into the agricultural biotechnology engineering department. She described her entry into the sector with the following words:
"I have been growing tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and various ornamental and squash varieties in the greenhouses you see for 3 years. The start of this business actually dates back to my childhood. My late father was also an agricultural engineer. As I accompanied him during his work at research institutes, I succumbed to this curiosity. Although I am a graduate of the food technician department, I re-entered the university entrance exam and was accepted into agricultural biotechnology engineering this year."
Controlled and Good Agriculture in Greenhouses
Producer Yasemin Güler Orhan stated that she adopts controlled methods in combating diseases and pests during the production process, and explained her production discipline with the following statements, indicating that they minimize the use of chemical pesticides in her greenhouses:
"As you can see here, I grow tomatoes and peppers. But how do I do it? First of all, we practice good agriculture. We set up our traps. We spray according to the population status. My greenhouse is not a place where spraying is done frequently."
Environmentally sensitive vegetable cultivation is carried out thanks to biotechnical traps installed in the facilities and periodic monitoring.
Hybrid Variety Trials Suitable for the Region
Producer Yasemin Güler Orhan, who is trying to identify the most suitable and disease-resistant vegetable varieties for the Trakya climate conditions in the field, conveyed the contribution of the subsidy program with the following words:
"I am trying to determine which varieties are more productive in greenhouses in Trakya, and which ones have lower or higher susceptibility to diseases. I also benefit from the support provided to young entrepreneurs and farmers here. In this greenhouse, we currently have a bush-type tomato. I received the seedling for this tomato with a 75% subsidy from our Ministry. I wanted to try this variety. When I heard about the subsidy, I wanted to benefit from it. I am very pleased."
Emphasizing that she prefers locally bred hybrid seeds, producer Yasemin Güler Orhan shared her experiences for young producers:
"In my greenhouse, I prefer tomato, pepper, squash, and cucumber varieties produced from hybrid seeds that have undergone local breeding work. Growing a fruit is truly like raising a child, and one feels very happy doing it. You forget everything here. While taking care of it, you watch it, you nurture it. This is not a fleeting endeavor; it is truly like one's child. I recommend it to everyone."