Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerMera İzmir project, which was initiated in line with the vision of "Another Agriculture is Possible", allowed the milk producer to breathe easily. The shepherds participating in the project said that they were happy to be able to sell the milk above the market price and that they were able to continue production thanks to the project.
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerMera İzmir project, in line with the İzmir Agriculture strategy, which was created with the vision of "Another Agriculture is Possible" and based on the fight against drought and poverty, allowed the shepherds to breathe. Shepherds, who had a difficult time due to limited grazing areas, high feed costs and low prices in milk purchases, said that they could find the strength to continue producing thanks to the project.
Soyer: “We will buy from Bergama, Kınık and Menemen in April”
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, who said that they signed a milk purchase agreement with 535 shepherds in Bergama, Kınık, Seferihisar, Urla, Güzelbahçe and Çeşme, and gave an advance of 3 million TL to the producer. Tunç Soyer“We have determined a price of 7 liras for sheep's milk, which is 11 liras, and 5 liras for goat's milk, which is 10 liras. We started our milk purchases from Seferihisar. In April, we will buy milk from our producers from Bergama, Kınık and Menemen”.
“We have come to a point where we cannot even milk”
Suleyman Özgen, 39, who makes a living from sheep and goat farming in Seferihisar, said, “We would have had a really hard time if this project had not been implemented. We're in a situation where we can't even do milking. Nice project. As shepherds, we all support this project.” Saying that they had given milk to dairy farms before, but the price was low, Süleyman Özgen said, “Dairys were trying to buy milk for 3 liras, 2 liras, and 7 liras for 5 liras. They were saying that if you pour it at last year's price, we'll buy it, otherwise we won't. How can we pour it at this price? Last year, we were buying the bait bag for 100 lira, this year it is 250 lira. We can't get out of this. But thanks to this project, we were very happy. We were very happy to give milk for 5 liras when we had to give milk for 11 liras.”
“Dairys don't give this price”
Eşref Özgen, 46, also stated that they gave milk to dairy farms, but they could not get their money's worth, and said: “This project has supported us. Currently, dairy farms cannot give the price given by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. If this project did not exist, we would have to give our milk to the dairy at low prices. We have no choice. This job has become impossible. Minister Tunç SoyerThank you very much.”
“If it wasn't for the metropolitan city, we would have left milk”
43-year-old Mehmet Sönmez stated that dairy farms no longer buy milk because they are losing money, “We had a very difficult time this year. Feed prices have increased a lot. If Izmir Metropolitan Municipality did not exist, milk would be left in our hands. We were sunk,” he said.
“Many want to participate in the project”
Osman Çakar, Member of the Board of Directors of Turgut İhsaniye Agricultural Development Cooperative, stated that the producers were struggling more and more every day and said, “Our producers were in a difficult situation. But they overcame this difficult situation with the project of the Metropolitan Municipality. Therefore, everyone is happy. There are many people who call me from far away places and want the project to be done in their own region. Ovine producers would have had great difficulties with feed prices, but with this project, the difficulties were overcome.”
“We will find a solution to rural poverty”
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Agricultural Services Department Head Şevket Meriç stated that the basis of İzmir Agriculture strategy is to support small producers with local seeds and local animal breeds and said, “After the pandemic, fires and other natural disasters, we have seen that we have become a society inclined to consumption. But we are dependent on outside to buy some products. In order to prevent this, it becomes clear how valuable it is to protect local seeds and local breeds. In order to support pasture livestock, our milk purchases have started, especially from cooperatives and small-scale producers. In this way, we will find a solution to rural poverty, and we will do everything we can to ensure that the citizens of the city have access to healthier food.”
“The products are more delicious and of high quality”
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality company BAYSAN A.Ş. General Manager Murat Onkardeşler said, “The basis of the fight against drought is to support local seed and animal breeds. With the Mera İzmir project, we have imposed some conditions on the producer. We train the manufacturer. Together with these trainings, we form one of the pillars of the fight against the climate crisis. The most important criterion here is that the animals have been grazed in the pasture for at least 7 months. Feeds such as silage corn and concentrated feed that consume a lot of water should not be given. Feeding should be done with heirloom seeds. That's why we give double the price of dairy farms to our producers. We plan to deliver the milk we buy to the consumer as matured tulum cheese and white cheese. The milk of the animals grazed on the pasture will turn into much more delicious and high quality cheeses.
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