Initiated by Yudum and the Seed Association, our Social Responsibility Project on Supporting Local Sunflower Seed is in its second year. After planting test seeds in the Thrace region last year, we will continue this project in Konya this year. We distributed free sunflower seeds to farmers in Konya as part of the project that we run with the support of Directorate of Thrace Agricultural Research Institute, Bahri Dagdas Directorate of International Agricultural Research Institute and Karatay Chamber of Agriculture.
In the second year of the ‘Social Responsibility Project on Supporting Local Sunflower Seed’ managed in cooperation with Yudum and the Seed Association and with the technical support of the Thrace Agricultural Research Institute Directorate, Bahri Dagdas Directorate of International Agricultural Research Institute and Karatay Chamber of Agriculture’ free -yielding sunflower seeds were distributed to farmers in Konya.
In the project aimed at developing high-yielding local sunflower seeds in Turkey and increasing diversity, seeds were distributed to farmers in Konya on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Within the scope of the Social Responsibility Project on Supporting Local Sunflower Seed, a total of ten varieties of local seeds were planted and harvested in the Thrace region last year, five of which were registered and five of which were candidates for registration. This year, a total of five varieties of local seeds, three unregistered and two registered, will be planted in Konya Yenikent, Göçü, Ovakavağı, Yarma and Karakaya villages.
In the Konya part of the project, we built a farmers’ network initially with farmers living in five villages. In providing seed support, we prioritized female and young farmers in need. Also, we provided face-to-face training and technical implementation support to farmers during the project.
The basis of the project was sustainability
In the project initiated by Yudum, the leader of the Turkish liquid edible oil sector together with the Seed Association, we took sustainability as basis to increase domestic production with local seeds while also supporting farmers in every sense. Seed support was provided to farmers included in the farmer network established in the Thrace region last year. This year, we will continue to provide seeds to farmers in Konya and the Thrace region, aiming at reaching a total of 40 farmers for an area of 1,200 decares in 2022. After the harvest in August this year, we will apply the productivity analysis to the varieties tested. The local seeds, whose fertility has been proven, will be registered and brought to our domestic production.