CHP's presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu's services to Istanbul continue without interruption even while "inside" due to legal processes. IMM, which has been providing 2020 percent grant support to Istanbul farmers, fishermen and beekeepers since 100, expanded its agricultural support portfolio this year and began delivering dry bean and chickpea seeds to farmers. This meaningful support was implemented in a ceremony held just 13 kilometers from Silivri Prison, where İmamoğlu is being held.
Hope Ceremony in Silivri: İmamoğlu's Vision Goes Beyond the Prisons
IMM held the “Oil sunflower, dry bean and chickpea seed distribution ceremony” in Silivri. The speech made by IMM Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan at the ceremony revealed the bitterness felt in İmamoğlu’s absence and that the services will continue with determination. Aslan emphasized the importance İmamoğlu gives to agriculture by saying, “Currently held captive in Silivri prison, our Mayor Ekrem, who was elected 3 times by the votes of the people of Istanbul, attaches great importance to the revival of agricultural production in Istanbul.” Aslan conveyed İmamoğlu’s greetings and said, “Our hearts are with our Mayor Ekrem. Yesterday Ekrem İmamoğluHe gave a message of solidarity by saying, “The order established by will continue today in Istanbul, tomorrow in all of Türkiye. We will continue to give to the people what belongs to the people.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's Uninterrupted and Comprehensive Support to Farmers is Growing Increasingly
CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu's support for Istanbul farmers continues to diversify and increase each passing year. Within the scope of agricultural support, IMM has provided a wide range of support to date, from tomato, pepper, eggplant seedlings to cattle feed, beekeeping and fishing equipment. The latest addition to these supports was dry bean and chickpea seed grants. At the distribution ceremony held at Silivri Müjdat Gürsu Sports Facility, farmers, the head of the chamber of agriculture and the mayor also made speeches, thanking İmamoğlu and emphasizing the importance of the support provided.
Greetings from Aslan to İmamoğlu and Detailed Information on the Services Provided
Deputy Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Nuri Aslan, from the ceremony area Ekrem İmamoğluHe sent his greetings to and conveyed in detail the work carried out by IMM for farmers. Stating that the input costs of farmers were reduced and agricultural production was encouraged with the seedling supports initiated in 2020, Aslan stated that winter vegetable seedlings, silage corn seeds, biological control equipment, fishing supplies and livestock feed support were also provided in the following years. He said that various supports such as oil sunflower, wheat seeds, irrigation equipment, fertilizer, diesel, strawberry seedlings, cattle feed, bee feed and mulch nylon were also implemented in 2022 and 2023. Aslan also emphasized that free irrigation water support was provided to farmers with 15 irrigation ponds belonging to IMM and that all these supports were realized in the form of 100 percent grant.
New Supports: Oil Sunflower, Dry Bean and Chickpea Seed
Aslan stated that as a result of the cooperation with district cooperatives, unions and agricultural chambers, the needs of farmers were determined and agricultural machinery and equipment support was provided accordingly. He stated that the number of farmers supported, which was 2020 in 693, reached a total of 2023 as of 5.945, including 2003 in plant production, 417 in animal production, 1.478 in beekeeping and 9.843 in fishing. He stated that 8 farmers in 96 districts and 2026 neighborhoods will benefit from the oil sunflower seed support, the distribution of which started today, and that 92.000 tons of oil sunflower are expected to be obtained from these seeds, which will be planted on an area of approximately 16.500 decares. He stated that 7 farmers from 70 neighborhoods and 256 districts will benefit from the dry bean and chickpea seed support, which is being distributed for the first time, and that a total of 25.250 kg of legume seed support will be provided, and that these seeds are expected to be planted on an area of approximately 2.000 decares, yielding 360 tons of product.
"Ekrem İmamoğluThe Order Established by 'Will Continue Exactly"
Deputy Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Nuri Aslan, emphasized that the support provided actually means giving back the people’s own resources, and said, “Yesterday, Ekrem İmamoğluThe order established by 'will continue as it is today in Istanbul, tomorrow in all of Türkiye. We will continue to give to the people what belongs to the people,” he said. Stating that they acted with İmamoğlu's understanding that "Istanbul's resources belong to all of us" and that they would continue to distribute these resources fairly, Aslan thanked all his colleagues and President İmamoğlu and wished them bountiful harvests.
Silivri Mayor Balcıoğlu: “I Wish My Mayor Could See The Hope Here”
Silivri Mayor Bora Balcıoğlu also made a bitter start to his speech, expressing the sadness felt in İmamoğlu’s absence. However, emphasizing that they had not lost hope, Balcıoğlu said, “I wish Mayor Ekrem was here so that he could see the hope in the eyes of the farmers and producers here. But he does, have no doubt.” Touching on the importance of protecting the land, Balcıoğlu stated that they would continue to stand by the farmers as local administrators and that they would walk together towards the goal of becoming the food gate of Istanbul.
Messages of Love and Support from Farmers to İmamoğlu
Speaking at the ceremony, female producer Fatmagül Öztürk and farmer Hüseyin Çıda thanked the people for their support. Ekrem İmamoğluThey thanked İmamoğlu and wished him to be freed and return to their ranks as soon as possible. The farmers stated that the treatment of İmamoğlu was wrong and wished for continued support.
Following the ceremony, seed distribution to farmers producing throughout Istanbul began. It was stated that thanks to these supports provided by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the agricultural areas in Istanbul increased by 51.000 acres. This situation stands out as a concrete indicator of the importance İmamoğlu attaches to Istanbul's agriculture and farmers even while he is "in prison".
