Support from Mersin Metropolitan Municipality to dairy farmers

It was reported that Mersin Metropolitan Municipality continues to support small-scale farmers and producers, especially those engaged in small-scale production.
Due to its geographical location and suitable climate conditions, agriculture is intensively practiced in Mersin. In order to make agricultural practices sustainable and to encourage producers, the Metropolitan Municipality provides agricultural support, particularly for small-scale farmers and producers.
In this context, the Kocaoğ family, who lives in Toroslar Neighborhood and has been making a living through large-scale animal husbandry for many years, is one of the producers supported by Mersin Metropolitan Municipality. Vedat Kocaoğ, who started helping his father in animal husbandry at a young age to make a living, benefited from the municipality’s support of maize silage and maize flake feed, getting rid of a major expense and acquiring a new animal with the budget he saved.
By supporting maize silage and maize flake feeds, which increase the digestibility of starch and the energy released, thus preventing potential fat, protein, and dry matter losses in milk quality, the Metropolitan Municipality has also increased the daily milk yield and quality of the producer. Now increasing milk production, the producer is very happy with the increase in milk quality, productivity, and income.
“We reduce the input costs of producers with the support we provide”
Agricultural Engineer Özgür Güldoğan, who serves in the Agricultural Services Department of the Metropolitan Municipality, provided information about the support provided to dairy producers and large animal breeders since 2020, stating, “Starting with 5 milk cooling tanks through our cooperatives, we continued our support with 3,025,800 kilograms of maize flake and feed support from 2021 to the present. By covering 50% of the feed costs, which are one of the biggest inputs for our producers, with a grant, we contributed to their economy. The reason for preferring maize flake feed is the high amount of energy released due to the hydrolysis of starch in the production stages, which increases both milk yield and quality in animals. Our support to small ruminant breeders will continue until 2024.
“Metropolitan Municipality supports producers financially and morally”
Producer Vedat Kocaoğ stated that his family is engaged in large-scale animal husbandry and that he has been supporting his family since a young age. Stating that they engage in small-scale production, Kocaoğ said, “We do not have a very large farm. We generally have dairy cows on our farm. We feed these animals with maize-based dairy feed, barley, and soy products. We use maize silage. No one has helped us like this before. Our costs are very high, and we thank the Metropolitan Municipality for showing that it stands by the producers.
Kocaoğ, who also mentioned that the municipality’s support for producers is quite extensive, said, “Mayor Vahap is someone who is close to the people. He especially values agriculture and farming. Therefore, he provides numerous supports to farmers. He is trying to modernize agriculture and provide financial and moral support to producers with olive tree seedlings, irrigation pipes, maize flake feed support, and milk cooling tanks.”