10-Stage Roadmap for the Establishment Process of Organized Agricultural Regions
· Google Haberler
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has clarified the application, site selection, and registration steps for Organized Agricultural Regions, which integrate agricultural production with industrial and environmental processes.
Preparation and Application of the OAR Project
Organized Agricultural Regions (OARs) stand out as planned production centers that integrate agricultural production with infrastructure, industry, energy, and environmental processes. The process begins with the preparation of a project in accordance with the format determined by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The presence of an industry or chamber of commerce among the founding members is mandatory. Following the preparations, public legal entities apply to the relevant governorship with 3 application files. Furthermore, obtaining positive opinions from the provincial special administration and relevant municipalities for the proposed area is a prerequisite.
Governorship and Commission Review Process
The application file submitted to the governorship is subject to a preliminary review by the Project Evaluation Commission established within the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. This commission comprehensively examines the current spatial plans, economic and sectoral conditions, employment opportunities, renewable energy potential, and environmental factors. If the project is deemed feasible and necessary for the region, the prepared file is sent directly to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in three copies for electronic review.
Ministry Evaluation and Site Selection
The Project Review and Approval Commission within the Ministry meticulously scrutinizes the project in terms of biosecurity, technical competence, and national agricultural policies. If the commission report prepared as a result of the review is positive, site selection and feasibility studies commence. The prepared feasibility report is submitted for approval to the General Directorate of Agricultural Reform. Subsequently, the convened Site Selection Commission conducts on-site inspections and prepares a comprehensive Site Selection Commission Report in line with the opinions of the relevant institutions.
Land Finalization and Environmental Approvals
For the official finalization of the Organized Agricultural Region area, complementary technical procedures must be completed on-site without fail. In this context, preparing a geological survey report and obtaining either an EIA positive or EIA not required certificate is mandatory. Additionally, if parcels with pasture qualifications are present in the selected area, qualification change procedures are carried out within the framework of Law No. 4342 on Pastures. Following the successful completion of these mandatory steps, the area designated for production is finally finalized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Establishment Protocol and Legal Entity
After the site selection is finalized, a 2-copy OAR Establishment Protocol is prepared and signed by the representatives of the promoter committee. The protocol, along with a formal petition containing the positive opinion of the governor, is submitted for Ministry approval. The protocol, after being reviewed and approved by the Ministry, is registered in the Ministry's OAR Registry, and a specific registry number is assigned to the region. With the registration process, the OAR officially gains legal entity status and begins operations in line with Turkey's vision of planned, sustainable, and high value-added agriculture.