President Çolakbayrakdar said, ‘In Kocasinan, we set an example for Turkey with agricultural production in the city center’

Within the scope of the agriculture project implemented in the city center by Kocasinan Municipality last year, planting of more than 10 varieties of 42 thousand vegetable seedlings was carried out. Mayor Çolakbayrakdar, who brought 25 thousand acres of agricultural land to Kayseri, where women both produce and sell organic products, stated that they set an example and became a model for Turkey in agricultural production in the city center.

Members of the Kocasinan Honeysuckle Women’s Initiative Production and Operation Cooperative, consisting of 12 members, who brought vegetable seedlings together with soil on the 25 thousand acres of land located next to Bekir Yıldız Boulevard in Sugar Neighborhood and the intersection of City Hospital, expressed their gratitude and prayers to Mayor Çolakbayrakdar, who made their dreams come true.

Mayor Çolakbayrakdar, stating that they continue agricultural production in the city center with 12 women producers within the project, said, ‘We are in the garden where our Women’s Cooperative produces. Here, women farmers find the opportunity to grow natural products. Varieties such as tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, eggplants, zucchinis, cucumbers, beans, okras, blackberries, and greens that they can produce daily are included. Last year, the cooperative we established started production actively in the field and they are still continuing. Mothers’ touch is felt here as well. This place, where both organic and local seeds of Kayseri like black carrot are grown, covers a total of 25 thousand acres including 1,200 square meter parcels. We continue to support our lady sisters to be involved in agricultural production as in every aspect of life. We are one of the few cities where urban agriculture is practiced in the city center. We were the first to have women from Kayseri produce agricultural products in the city center with a cooperative. This project we have carried out for our women’s cooperative sets an example. It will open different horizons especially in our city and our country. In addition to the investments we have made so far, we will implement projects that will create awareness for our Kocasinan with new projects in the future. All our efforts are to support our city’s and our country’s economy and contribute to employment. Congratulations on their hard work. I thank our lady sisters.’

Mayor Çolakbayrakdar emphasized that as Kocasinan Municipality, they provide great support to agriculture, especially in terms of growing heirloom seeds for future generations and healthy societies, and added that the project that brings agriculture to the city center will shed light on Turkey’s future as the Kocasinan model.

Cooperative President Büşra Minaz pointed out that the project is very important for the spread of organic farming and women’s employment, saying, ‘We have come a long way in the project we started last year. We were provided with all kinds of opportunities here. Besides the 1,200 square meter area where we plant our vegetables, places like a 21 square meter closed area and a resting area were built. There are 12 women who are members of our cooperative. Today, we are bringing together a total of 42 thousand seedlings with 3,500 seedlings per person. A great employment opportunity has been provided here. Most of those who became members of the cooperative had never worked or dealt with soil until now. They felt their own strength here. Our place is very beautiful and our soil is very fertile. Actually, we are doing the job that should be in rural areas right in the heart of the city. Currently, we are growing completely natural organic products. When we receive the organic certification, our products will be completely organic. There is no job that women cannot succeed in.’

Dilek Coşkun expressed her gratitude for providing them with these opportunities in the city center, saying, ‘We thank our mayor very much for providing us with these opportunities. The fact that it is close to our homes and in the city center provides more sales opportunities for the products we grow. We are happy and proud to start earning our own money as housewives. It provides both employment and we, as housewives, are now starting to earn our own money. We are happy and proud.’

Züleyha Aydemir said, ‘This place has become a work area for us. Everything is very nice. We will do completely organic farming. I was a housewife. I have never worked in any job until now. I thank our mayor, Mr. Ahmet Çolakbayrakdar, for providing me with such an opportunity.’

Aynur Sönmez said, ‘This place is a priceless blessing for us. It is very enjoyable to meet with the soil for the first time. Despite being very tiring, we combined the seedlings with the soil for the first time in our lives. It is a very nice feeling to earn your own money. Being in the city center and also being close to the City Hospital is a great advantage.’

Figen Udül, stating that they will be everywhere in Kayseri as organic producers, said, ‘We are very pleased to have started a first in Kayseri. Our goal is to expand the project we started last year and set an example for Turkey. We grow organic products for humanity and offer healthy products. We were proud to pick the products we planted last year and sell organic products. Thanks to the project, we started to hold our own money. We feel more valuable. We support the family economy. When I couldn’t even plant a flower before, today I have my own fields. We cannot thank our mayor enough. Our mayor is our pride. We are very grateful.’

Emine Ünal expressed her gratitude to Mayor Çolakbayrakdar, who provided them with all kinds of opportunities.

Rukiye Katırcı thanked Mayor Çolakbayrakdar for providing such an opportunity and said, ‘Soil means abundance. When it meets with women’s labor, we both achieved great efficiency and supported the family economy. Meeting with agriculture in the heart of the city is a very beautiful thing.’

Other female producers, who prayed for Mayor Çolakbayrakdar, who made their dreams come true, stated, ‘First of all, we thank our mayor very much. Dealing with the soil is a beautiful feeling. It removes the negative impact on us. We both support the economy and benefit from our lands. With this project, our women become more beneficial to society. Their self-confidence increases. God bless them.’