KAHRAMANMARAS SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Background Information: As a result of feasibility studies undergone for many years and negotiations between  countries, it was decided that Azerbaijani oil would passed through Georgian and Turkish territories and transfer to world market. The construction of BTC (Baku,-Tiflis-Ceyhan) Raw Oil Pipe Line, started in 2003, was completed in 2006 and oil shipment was started. With 1774 km of Pipe line which begins from Baku and ends up in Ceyhan (1074 km within Turkish territory), 50 million tones of raw oil is planned to supply for world market.

BTC Consortium consists of 8 cooperation and leading by BP (one of the shareholders is Turkish Oil Co.), has announced that it would provide financial support for sustainable rural development projects in settlements on the pipeline in scope of the Community Investment Programme, formed in social responsibility principle.

In this scope, International Blue Crescent Humanitarian relief and Development Foundation has prepared a comprehensive project for settlements on the pipe line in Kahramanmaras and it was supported by BTC.  The project, started by June 2007 is being realized in 29 project villages in Goksun and Andirin Counties under the name of Kahramanmaras – Goksun/Andirin Sustainable Rural Development Project.

Project Summary: Kahramamaras Andirin-Goksun Sustainable Rural Development Project, funded by BTC Co. is being implemented in 29 villages of Andirin and Goksun Counties in Kahramanmaras. Project started in June 2007 with 8 personnel including veterinarians, agricultural engineers, association experts, field and project coordinator. 
In scope of the project activities aiming at improving means of living such as animal husbandry and agriculture through comprehensive trainings and direct implementations (establishment of gardens, vaccination of animal, etc.)  
In addition to this, one of the other important targets of the project is to generate capacity building activities for associations and unions based in project villages in order to ensure the sustainability of the project implementations. 
Some of the key approaches of the project implementation are as follows:
• Community Participation in project planning 
• Cooperation with Local Authorities and Communities 
• Obtaining contribution from beneficiaries and local authorities 
• Positive discrimination to disadvantaged sections of society.

Project Goal:

• Strengthening of agricultural sustainability, increasing productivity and income level
• Broadening the  new agricultural activities (raspberry, blackberry) and establishing marketing networks
• Increase in high quality and healthy animal breeding
• The spread of practice in animal breeding recordings by means of uniform applications
• Development of beekeeping within the territory for income generation
• The strengthening of the associations or alterations on their structures by adding different  functions of achievements

Project Beneficiaries: Akifiye, Alinoluk, Altinboga, Basdogan, Bektasli, Canbaz, Cokak, Geben, Gokceli, Haciveliusagi, Kesim, Kumarli, Orhaniye, Torun, Tufanpasa, Yesilova, Yesilyurt villages in Andirin County; Caglayan, Degirmendere, Dogankonak, Findiklikoyak, Kucukcamurlu, Mahmutbay, Mehmetbey, Mursel, Tahirbey, Tasoluk, Yiricek villages in Goksun County, Tahirbey, Tufanpasa, Genen and Degirmendere Associations, Andirin Agricultural Development Foundation, Andirin Goc Yolu Association.

Implemented Activities:

BEEKEPING
135 Beehives with bees given to 9 Beneficiaries
9 villagers have been benefited from the beekeeping activity implemented Fındıklıkoyak, Mursel, Caglayan and Dogankonak villages in Goksun. All necessary equipment and material including food staff, sugar, training materials have been provided to the beneficiaries who were trained by the project team. Beehives are visited regularly and technical support given. By the year 2008, the number of beehives increased to 152.

Apart from this, project will provide technical support to 25 households who do beekeeping in the project region with their own resources.

AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES

Raspberry and Blackberry Cultivation

One of the important activities of the project is to become wide spreading of raspberry and blackberry cultivation in the project villages. With this perspective, since the beginning of the project, 20 gardens have established in 10 villages for 20 beneficiaries

Widespread of Cattle Feeding Corn and Corn Demonstration Fields
The fundamental component of developing animal production and stockbreeding is to raise quality and cultivation of feeding grains.

In order to encourage of cultivation of cattle feeding corn, 2 demonstration corn gardens each of 5.000 square meters were established in Geben, and received 60 tons cattle forage. After the success of the implementation, it was determined to widespread the implementation to other villages.

Preparation and demonstration works of cattle feeding corn fields will be realized in 20 places and 100.000 square meters in 2008. Cattle will be followed up by project team until harvest time and at harvest time on October 2008 cattle made will be demonstrated to related producers. 

Widespread of Greenhouse Plantation: Establishment of New Greenhouses 
3 greenhouse established in the villages of Goksun in scope of the 2007 project implementation period has been widely welcomed by the beneficiaries, for that reason it has determined to increase the number of greenhouses in 2008 period and examine the availability of greenhouse in Andirin. In this scope 4 more greenhouse each of which 250 square meters have established Findiklikyak, Yiricek and Caglayan villages. Beneficiaries are cultivating tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and onion in the greenhouses.

Sapling Cultivation And Providing Cheap Sapling To Beneficiaries
Fruit growing sector as a main income resource is accelerated in Goksun and Andirin regions. Because of high level of investment and capital needed for start on the sector and the income return after three years people willing to be involved to the fruit production sector are skeptic and that’s why the sector is not booming in the region.

In this scope 9.000 young fruit saplings were purchased in 2007. In cooperation with the Andirin County Agricultural Directorate, these saplings were cultivated in the premises of the Directorate. In scope of 2008 project implementation period, these saplings will be provided to beneficiaries at low cost.

Hungarian Vetch
In order to encourage fodder crops cultivation, 2 demonstration Hungarian vetch gardens were established in Mahmutbey and Mehmetbey villages in Goksun County.

Soil Analyses Trainings and Works 
Throughout the year from 29 allocation units at least 300 beneficiaries’ fields’ laboratory soil analysis will be provided to be done. Concerning soil analysis works contributions will be taken from the beneficiaries, in the directions of analyze conclusion/reports information about correct use of manure and correct application techniques will be given and beneficiaries’ field will be monitored.

Development of Vegetable Production in Dry Fields: Pea Gardens Demonstration 
There are project villages and agricultural fields in Andirin where irrigated farming does not exit. In order to make use of these fields, pie gardens have been established in Basdogan, Kumarli, Bektasli, Gokceli, Haciveliusagi and Alinoluk villages in total of 14.000 square meters.

Trainings and technical Support in Agricultural Cultivation 
Trainings and technical support have been given on the subjects including ordinary vegetable cultivation, fodder crops cultivation, truncating techniques and combating with diseases and inoculation. In scope of 2007, 2725 beneficiaries in total have been benefited from these activities. 

INCREASING OF QUALITY AND HEALTHY ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Animal Husbandry activities include sample shelter applications, revision of the shelters, Combating with Animal Diseases, Generalizing of hygiene conditions, and Training on Improving Animal Husbandry Implementations. These activities are taken into action by 1 veterinarian and 1 veterinarian technician. Project implementations are continued.  The detailed figures of implementations of 2007 are as follows:

Trainings:

Implementations:

Supporting Women in Forming Health Awareness

Health is an important part of rural development activities. In this frame, in 29 project villages, health education including hygiene, breast cancer, cervical cancer, 0 – 6 years old child development subjects were realized in and 583 women were benefited from the activity.

8 women beneficiaries attended the trainer trainings which took 5 days.  Hygiene, breast cancer, cervical cancer, 0 – 6 years old child development trainer trainings were realized in Andirin or Goksun county centers and given by 3 health educators who are working for International Blue Crescent Foundation and giving trainer trainings on health issues. 

Institutional Capacity Building Activities

Activities implemented in order to strength capacities of associations established in scope of the project.

Invigorating Conformity of Associations and Benevolent Societies of Legislation  

Financial and human resources contribution for Geben Festival organized by Geben Association.

Financial and technical contribution for “Basak” three monthly periodical published by Geben Association

Financial and organization contribution for computer trainings organized by Tufanpasa Association in cooperation with Public Training Centre.

Financial and organization support for distribution of stationary material for needed 138 students through 4 associations.

Financial support for Agricultural Mechanization project to be implemented by Geben Association in July 2008.

Out of Project Area Experience Exchange Trips:A professional agricultural enterprise was visited in order to contribute to higher technical knowledge on fruit growing of villagers as well as the representatives of both District and County Agricultural Directorates.