Cooperation Protocol Signed Between TKDK and Ziraat Bank for 'TARGET Project'

October 2, 2026 · Tarım Portalı

The Agricultural and Rural Development Support Institution (TKDK) and Ziraat Bank have launched their cooperation to finance investments in the agriculture and food sector within the scope of the Turkey Agriculture-Food Sector Transformation Project for Employment and Rural Welfare (TARGET).

The cooperation protocol under the TARGET Project was realized with a signing ceremony attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Ahmet Bağcı, TKDK President Dr. Ahmet Antalyalı, and Ziraat Bank General Manager Alpaslan Çakar in Istanbul.

Within the scope of the TARGET Project, investors will be provided with financing opportunities of up to 10 million US dollars with a maturity of up to 7 years.

Strong Financing Support for Agriculture and Food Investments

Within the scope of the TARGET Project, which is carried out under the general coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, implemented by TKDK, and financed by the World Bank, long-term financing will be provided to businesses that will invest in agriculture and food. Within the scope of the cooperation, the resources that TKDK obtained from the World Bank will be provided as investment loans to legal entities that will carry out agricultural investment projects through Ziraat Bank. The project aims to facilitate access to finance for businesses wishing to invest in the agriculture and food sector, to improve production capacity, and to strengthen the agriculture-food value chain.

Long-Term Financing for Investments

Within the scope of the TARGET Project, financing repayable up to 80% of the investment amount can be provided. The financing, which can be disbursed up to 10 million US dollars depending on the project size, will be offered with a maturity of up to 7 years, including a grace period of up to 2 years. The financing can be used for the construction of facilities in the agriculture and food sector, as well as for machinery and equipment investments. In the first phase of the financing, planned as 5.3 billion US dollars over a 10-year period, it is planned to disburse 750 million US dollars.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Ahmet Bağcı stated that the TARGET Project is an important step for strengthening investments in the agriculture and food sector and increasing rural welfare, saying, 'We are aware of the great importance of access to finance for the sustainable development of our agriculture and food sector, the increase of our production capacity, and the strengthening of our producers' competitiveness. As the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, with the TARGET Project, we will add strength to the strength of our producers and investors by supporting investments in different links of the agriculture-food value chain, from production to processing, from storage to logistics.'

Dr. Bağcı stated that the project will encourage investments compatible with production planning and strengthen producers' access to markets, adding, 'We will support the transformation of agricultural production into value-added products, especially in Organized Agricultural Regions, enable our producers to take an active role in the market through contract farming models, and create new employment opportunities in rural areas. As a Ministry, we will continue to increase and develop the labor of our farmers, the entrepreneurship of our investors, and our country's agricultural production power. I wish this protocol, which we signed today with Ziraat Bank within the scope of the TARGET Project, which was announced to the public by our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the World Farmers' Day Program, to be beneficial for our country's agriculture, producers, and investors; and I hope that our cooperation will contribute to the development of our agriculture-food sector.'

TKDK President Dr. Ahmet Antalyalı also stated in his speech that the TARGET Project offers an important opportunity to reach a wider investor base with different international financing sources by leveraging TKDK's experience in project management and rural development, saying, 'Thanks to this cooperation we have realized with Ziraat Bank, we will provide long-term financing opportunities for the investments of agriculture-food businesses and producer organizations. As TKDK, with our strong project management experience, we will contribute to the transformation of resources into production, investment, and rural development by effectively carrying out the application and evaluation processes.'

Ziraat Bank General Manager Alpaslan Çakar, in his evaluation at the signing ceremony, drew attention to the strategic importance of the agriculture sector for the Turkish economy and said: 'As Ziraat Bank, we continue to stand by our producers and investors with the strength we derive from our 163 years of experience in financing the agriculture sector. We evaluate this cooperation with TKDK within the scope of the TARGET Project as an important step for the sustainable development of the agriculture and food sector. With this project, which will contribute to strengthening the agriculture-food value chain, supporting investments with long-term resources, and facilitating access to finance, we will support the development of our country's agricultural production capacity. As Ziraat Bank, we will continue to support projects that increase our country's production power with our widespread service infrastructure and expertise in agricultural financing.'

Disbursements Expected to Start in 2027

Within the scope of the TARGET Project, the project announcement is planned to be made by TKDK by the end of 2026, and financing disbursements are expected to begin in 2027 after the evaluation of applications.

Investors will submit their projects to TKDK during the application and evaluation process. For investments found to be within the scope of the project by TKDK, financing will be transferred to the business accounts by Ziraat Bank on a milestone basis according to the progress of the investment.

Repayments will be made in installments after the grace period.

Türkçe