The meetings related to the structuring activities of the Common Agricultural Policy Network (NRN) covering 81 provinces were held in Trabzon on September 18-21, 2023.
Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the representatives of all institutions and organizations related to the agricultural policies of the provinces and regions, as well as stakeholders, came together at the meetings that lasted for 4 days and in which the functioning, goals and objectives of NRN were shared.
On the first day of the meetings held in Trabzon, experts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry were visited at the office of Mr. Hacı Osman HÖKELEKLI, Deputy Governor of Trabzon, and informed about the Common Agricultural Policy Network and the work to be undertaken in Trabzon within this scope. On the same day, Trabzon Deputy Provincial Director Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Süleyman BOZ, Eastern Black Sea Development Agency (DOKA) expert and coordinator Mr. Serkan ATABAŞ, ARDSI Provincial Coordinator Mr. Şansal Aydoğdu and the Head of Aquaculture Department of the Central Research Institute of Fisheries, Mr. Recayi ÇIMAGIL were visited and informed about the ongoing activities. On the second day, a Core Group meeting was organized at the meeting hall of the Trabzon Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry building under the coordination of the Deputy Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Süleyman BOZ with the participation of Director of the Rural Development Section of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture Yuksel KILIC, Engineer Engin SEVIM, expert Mr. Gökhan BAYRAK and expert Mr. Ilhan Balaban representing ARDSI Provincial Coordination Unit, expert and coordinator of the Eastern Black Sea Development Agency Mr. Serkan ATABAŞ, Head of the Aquaculture Department of the Central Research Institute of Fisheries Mr. Recayi ÇIMAGIL and Technical Coordinator Dr. Ahmet Faruk YEŞILSU. At the meeting, the ministry expert delivered a presentation on ”EU New Common Agricultural Policy in the Rural Network Process", the responsibilities of the institutions and organizations related to the Common Agricultural Policy Network were determined and expert views were exchanged.
On the third day, following the opening speech of Mr. Isa KAPLAN, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, in the same meeting hall, a focus group meeting was held chaired by Yaşar SEYS, Deputy Provincial Director. Liaison representatives of our ministries and NGOs working in Trabzon provincial organizations (Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality, Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, Provincial Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior, Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Regional Directorate of Agricultural Credit Cooperatives, Trabzon Chamber of Industry, Provincial Directorate of National Education) participated in the meeting.
On the fourth day, a stakeholder meeting was held with the participation of all the actors of the region in the field of rural development and agriculture, such as farmers, academicians, cooperative and union representatives, private sector representatives. During the broadly participated meeting, a presentation was delivered to the stakeholders about the NRN structuring activity, and opinions were exchanged after the presentation.
Within the scope of the field visits, General Manager of Yomra Fisheries, Ilker YILDIRIM, Hazelnut Guild founder, female entrepreneur Seyyare SUNGUR and S.S Of Özçay Agricultural Development Cooperative were also visited.
COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) NETWORK
The national rural network aims to ensure effective implementation of rural development policies and offer new approaches for rural development. It also aims to ensure the participation of all stakeholders and protect the integrity of local cultural values while implementing rural development policies. A story of change is being written in the rural areas.