KIZILTEPE

The decrees made in the 17th of the joint meetings held in Mardin with the participation of all Chambers/Exchanges and aiming to contribute to regional development activities are being implemented. For this purpose, studies are carried out on the diversity of agricultural products in the region.

Mardin Chambers and Commodity Exchanges made a visit to the Mardin Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry for this purpose. The participants of the visit to the Director of the Office, Menduh Dinler, on March 19, 2021 were as follows:

Kızıltepe Commodity Exchange (KTB) Chairman of the Board Mehmet Şahin, Deputy Secretary General Metin Sert; Kızıltepe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KTSO) Chairman of the Board Mahmut Dündar, Secretary General Ahmet Aslan; Mehmet Ali Tutaşı, Chairman of the Board of Mardin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MTSO); Nusaybin Commodity Exchange (NTB) Chairman of the Board Necdet Aktaş, Board Member Özgür Kartal; TOBB/TEPAV, Mardin Province/Districts Chamber/Commodity Exchange Academic Advisor and Mardin Artuklu University (MAÜ) FEAS Department of Economics Lecturer Assoc. Dr. Mehmet Behzat Ekinci.

During the visit, the agricultural problems of the city and the region were discussed. In this context, the issue of agricultural product diversity was a special agenda item. In the negotiations, which touched upon the supply, pricing and income problems caused by the farmers' concentration on certain products, attention was drawn to the need to turn to alternative products as a way out. Peanut, Soybean and Peanut are among these products.

Participants expressed that Mardin Chambers/Exchanges are ready to lead the way in this process of change. For this purpose, they emphasized the importance of cooperating with relevant institutions and especially Mardin Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Mardin Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry also mentioned the importance and benefit of this cooperation and stated that it would please them.

As a result of the negotiations, it was decided to carry out a project for Pistachio in partnership with Mardin Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and Mardin Chambers/Commodity Exchanges. In this framework, it was agreed in principle to apply to the grant programs for this purpose as a project stakeholder and to carry out the program to be prepared in cooperation with the relevant Ministries and Institutions.

With the project, it is aimed to increase the pistachio production areas within the scope of product diversity in Mardin and the region in the medium and long term as well as to carry out more efficient and high value-added agricultural activities. Mardin Chambers and Exchanges will play an active role in this process.