We are expanding the National Rural Network of Türkiye to the whole country as the Turkish Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Network under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry within the scope of the 2023 Century of Türkiye.
The CAP Network, based on the understanding of trust, cooperation and learning together, is a platform that will operate in cooperation with agricultural and institutions and organizations working in the field of rural development, and all relevant stakeholders. In order to have an effective and sound performance of the CAP network structure, a high-level Steering Committee (SC) has been established under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Reform (GDAR) IPARD Managing Authority and 26 Regional central provinces have been identified to cover 81 provinces.
As part of the actions to establish 26 Regional Coordination units, field activities were carried out on 25-29 September 2023 in Şanlıurfa for the formation of the regional central coordination unit.
During the programme in Şanlıurfa, meetings were held in which the structure, goals and objectives of the CAP Network were shared, representatives of relevant institutions, organizations and CSOs serving agriculture and rural development, and all stakeholders were brought together and networks were started to be formed.
On the first day; Ministry staff Ms. Aygül ERDOĞMUŞ and Project Expert Ms. Nazlı DENGİ visited the office of the Deputy Governor of Şanlıurfa, Mr. Yasin AKGÜL, and provided information on the CAP Network. Şanlıurfa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Karacadağ Development Agency, Agriculture and Rural Development Support Agency (ARDSI) Provincial Coordination Unit and GAP Agricultural Research Institute Directorate (GAPTAEM) were visited and informed about the activities carried out within the scope of the CAP Network and the establishment of the Regional Coordination Unit.
On the second day, a meeting was held with the attendance of the Core Group representatives and the representatives of the Focus Group including the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanization, Provincial Directorate of Civil Society Relations, Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies, Regional Coordination Office of Agriculture and Credit Cooperatives, GAPTAEM and GAP Regional Development Administration liaison officers. During the meeting, an informative presentation was delivered by the representatives of the Ministry about the structure and responsibilities of the CAP Network Regional Coordination unit. Representatives of the relevant institutions who will be responsible for carrying out the Regional Coordination of the Şanlıurfa CAP Network were identified and the meeting was concluded.
On the third day, meetings were held with the Sheep and Goat Breeders Association, Cattle Breeders Association and farmers, and information was exchanged on the region's agricultural and rural development efforts, problems faced and possible solutions.
The fourth day; Siverek Women's Agricultural Development Cooperative was visited, information was provided on the CAP Network Regional Coordination unit formation activities. The Cooperative's “Greenhouse Vegetable Production Project” supported by GAP Regional Development Administration was visited and information was obtained about the activities.
Field activities were completed by providing support to the institutions, organizations, CSOs, and all stakeholders in the field of agriculture and rural development met in Şanlıurfa for the effective and sound implementation of the CAP Network in Türkiye within the scope of 26 regional actions covering the entire country.