Female Entrepreneurs in İpsala to Produce Blueberries for Export
· Tarım Pusulası
In Edirne's İpsala district, 9 female entrepreneurs will produce blueberries using a contract and soilless farming model at a facility established with a 4.5 million euro investment, with the entire yield slated for export.
Contract Blueberry Production in İpsala
In Edirne's İpsala district, DCT Trading subsidiary Bluefarm Tarım Teknolojileri ve Üretim A.Ş. signed a contract farming agreement with Blueberry Ladies Tarımsal Üretim A.Ş., established by 9 female entrepreneurs. Within the scope of the cooperation, female entrepreneurs will grow blueberries using modern methods by leasing land from Bluefarm Tarım. The company will provide producers with know-how transfer, fertilizer center infrastructure, full automation systems, and material supply. In this model, brought to life with a ceremony attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ebubekir Gizligider and Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer, the entire produced goods will be exported with a purchase guarantee.
Modern Facility and Investment Goals
The 265-decare farm, brought to life by Bluefarm Tarım with a 4.5 million euro investment and whose construction is ongoing, plans to reach a total sapling capacity of 150,000. The company aims to transfer the agricultural model implemented in Greece's Evros region to this area. Levent Sadık Ahmet, Chairman of the Board of DCT Trading and Bluefarm IKE and Bluefarm Tarım, made the following statement:
"We are now transferring all the knowledge and experience we gained at Bluefarm IKE to Turkey through Bluefarm Tarım."
The project aims to offer producers in İpsala and its surroundings an alternative product pattern with high added value.
Soilless Farming and Yield Plan
In the first phase of the project, carried out with Blueberry Ladies, production will commence in approximately 2,500 pots. As the plants reach full productivity, the annual yield is projected to reach approximately 13 tons. The production, planned with environmentally friendly and soilless farming methods, aims to minimize water consumption. Levent Sadık Ahmet stated that sustainable agriculture practices and modern irrigation technologies will be introduced to the region. The goal is to directly generate foreign currency income by shipping the entire harvest to foreign markets, thereby contributing to the country's exports.
Female Entrepreneurship and Export Vision
The contract production model aims to increase female employment in rural areas and connect local producers to professional export chains. Meltem Çelik, Chairperson of the Board of Blueberry Ladies Tarımsal Üretim A.Ş., conveyed the project's vision with the following words:
"Through this structure, extending from production to sales, we aim to both develop our own production and create a model of female entrepreneurship in İpsala that will be an example for Turkey."
The initiative presents an exemplary export model that combines sustainable agricultural techniques with women-focused rural development.