IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlurealized the first harvest of the year together with the villagers of Silivri. Emphasizing that they are determined to show and create an exemplary structure not only for Istanbul but also for Turkey, İmamoğlu said, “The country will not benefit from this city turning into a concrete home. One thinks of the buildings by the canal, we think of irrigation canals; There will be lands that will sprout from there," he said.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) President Ekrem İmamoğlu, participated in the “Harvest Festival” held in Silivri Değirmenköy. Before the event in the village square, İmamoğlu took a break in one of the fields along the road and put on his cap and made the first harvest together with the farmers. Accompanied by CHP PM Member Gökhan Günaydın, Büyükçekmece Mayor Hasan Akgün and Çorlu Mayor Ahmet Sarıkurt and İBB Secretary General Can Akın Çağlar, İmamoğlu met with the farmers in the tent set up in the village square.
FEMALE FARMERS: “I STARTED THE SEASON WITH A PROFIT OF 50 THOUSAND TL”
Gökçe Aydın delivered the first speech on behalf of women farmers at the event organized for the Harvest Festival. Aydın, who thanked İmamoğlu for the support provided by İBB to them, said, “When we were about to quit farming, all our farmers smiled thanks to this support. When I started the season this year, I started the season with a profit of 50 thousand TL. The amount of moral support provided is invaluable.” After Aydın, Değirmenköy Headman Erkan Varol, Silivri Vegetable Union President İsmet Asan and Silivri Chamber of Agriculture President Sabri Özer made speeches.
“THE HAPPINEST MOMENTS HARVEST HOLIDAYS”
Making the last speech, İmamoğlu exemplified in detail the support they give to farmers who make a living with agricultural and animal production. Emphasizing that he had his happiest moments during harvest holidays since taking office, İmamoğlu underlined that they accomplished many important works in 2 years. “I can say that I have experienced the same enthusiasm that we experienced both in Pendik last year and here today, in very few places. Because there is happiness, peace and abundance in an environment where agriculture and countryside are developed”, Imamoğlu said, “We will establish modern greenhouses in the areas shown by our cooperatives and producers, starting from Değirmenköy and Pendik Göçbeyli. We will transform these greenhouses into a school where they will not make mistakes by transferring technical information with the contributions of our technical staff. It will be a kind of school where we will transfer the right models and the most innovative models in production to our farmers.”
“WE ARE DETERMINED TO BUILD AN EXAMPLE STRUCTURE FOR TURKEY”
Emphasizing that they are determined to show and create an exemplary structure not only for Istanbul but also for Turkey, İmamoğlu said, “Turkey's population is increasing by 1 million a year. We import 10 billion dollars of agricultural products annually. In other words, we import 85 billion TL worth of agricultural products with our own money. Emphasizing that they are obliged to use the agricultural lands with the highest efficiency in Istanbul, which has a population of 16 million, İmamoğlu said, “In this sense, besides being sensitive to zoning plans, we must establish the mechanisms that support both plant and animal production in this process as quickly as possible. The country will not benefit at all as this city turns into a concrete home. The future of the country is better and more assured as the lands of this city sprout with abundance,” he said. Drawing attention to the importance of irrigation in agricultural production, İmamoğlu shared the information that the amount of area irrigated by İBB ponds was increased from 1000 decares to 13 thousand decares in their own periods. Stating that this is due to the priority given in the understanding of service, İmamoğlu said, “Whatever you give priority to. One thinks of buildings by the canal, we think of irrigation canals; There will be lands that will sprout from there," he said.
“WE WILL PROVIDE THE BEST EXAMPLE OF COOPERATION WITH DIRT AND KENT”
Noting that they will continue to stand by the farmers, İmamoğlu said, “We will give the best example of rural-urban cooperation in Istanbul. We will fight poverty together. We will create better channels for what our farmers produce through cooperatives. This is the main journey underlying our creation of hundreds of People's Grocery Stores in Istanbul. I would like to thank all my fellow travelers who contributed to this. Good luck to each and every one of them. Let them think more, create better ideas. We create resources. With these reasonable resources, we will continue to make examples that make Istanbulites, farmers and the whole of Turkey hopeful and happy. Solidarity will make our lives much more livable. But let's be in the countryside, but let's be in the city; We will not be stuck in the city, we will show some proof of being happy in the countryside as well.”
SOME SUPPORT OF IMM TO FARMERS
The greenhouse in Kemerburgaz, which was idle and left to rot, was converted into a modern seedling greenhouse.
In 2020, 9 million summer vegetable seedlings were distributed in 83 districts and 3.6 neighborhoods. These seedlings were planted on an area of 2.287 decares. The historic delivery of 16.380 tons of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants and watermelons produced to Istanbul residents Kadıköy The Tuesday market was allocated to producers and cooperatives. A similar market will be opened in Beşiktaş on Saturday, August 7, 2021.
In 2021, 15 million summer vegetable seedlings were distributed in 111 districts and 4.2 neighborhoods. These seedlings were planted on an area of 2.728 decares. It is calculated that 19.612 tons of crops will be taken from here.
Starting from October, a total of 12 million winter vegetable seedlings in 65 districts and 5 neighborhoods will be given free of charge to the producers.
Next to the existing 4-decare greenhouses of IMM in different districts, another 4,5-decare seedling greenhouse will be built. Thus, IMM will have reached the capacity to produce all the summer and winter seedlings that Istanbul needs in its own greenhouses.
As a result of the works carried out by spending 2020 million TL in 21-10,5, the amount of area irrigated by the IMM ponds was increased from 1.000 decares to 13.060 decares. Thus, the pond, which can still irrigate 500 decares through the open channel, will reach the capacity to irrigate at least 15.000 decares with the closed system.
In 2021, silage corn seed support was given in 9 districts and 63 neighborhoods. These seeds were planted on 7 thousand decares. Approximately 60 thousand tons of silage will be obtained from these.
Preparations for the distribution of 474 tons of feed to a total of 1.200 producers have been completed for animal breeders. 404 tons of bovine milk feed support will be provided to 174 producers who are members of the Istanbul Cattle Breeders Association and 1,445 producers who are members of the Buffalo Association.
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