The Future of Agriculture Lies in Cooperatives

A panel on Producer Cooperatives held within the scope of GROWTECH.ANTALYA emphasized the importance of cooperativism and unity for sustainable production in the agricultural sector.

The panel, moderated by AgroNews Editor-in-Chief Yasemin Arslan, featured speakers including Ayten Çot, Founder of SS. Döşemealtı Women’s Initiative Production and Management Cooperative, Soner Akkanat, Vice President of Korkuteli Agricultural Chamber and Vice President of Çaykenarı Agricultural Cooperative, Şahin Köse, Founding Member of Kumluca Agricultural Cooperative, and Seda Özel, Agricultural Engineer and President of the International Agriculture Association.

Moderator Yasemin Arslan drew attention to the importance of financing, branding, and marketing for producer cooperatives, emphasizing that cooperativism would play an important role in the future of agriculture in Turkey, as in the examples of Spain and the Netherlands.

Emphasis on Digitalization and Institutionalization

Seda Özel, Agricultural Engineer and President of the International Agriculture Association, stated that successful examples in the field of cooperativism in society have been producing positive results with the impact of digitalization.

Özel noted that farmers are making efforts to organize and suggested that the issue should be addressed at an institutional level. Reminding that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has infrastructure in all districts, Özel stated that farmers should be encouraged to establish product-based unions and institutionalize with state support. Drawing attention to difficulties in business expenses, financial management, and access to finance, Özel noted that cooperatives have problems with institutionalization. Emphasizing the importance of processing products, packaging them, and delivering them to end consumers, Özel stated that auto-control and security are also important in business processes, and for this purpose, technological facilities such as software, digital control systems, cameras, and sensors can be used. Referring to the necessity of integrating modern technologies and digital processes into Turkish agriculture, Özel noted that cooperatives play an important role within the framework of the local development model, that the agricultural sector creates added value through employment as well as sales to imports and the domestic market, and that strategically important producer cooperatives contribute to the economy.

Challenges Faced by Producers

Soner Akkanat, Vice President of Çaykenarı Agricultural Cooperative, stated that producers are experiencing various difficulties under current market conditions. Akkanat expressed that producer cooperatives are trying to struggle under market conditions through bulk purchases or sales and protect their members. Stating that their cooperative generally conducts work in the field of animal husbandry and milk collection, Akkanat noted that they are affected by market conditions and that input costs such as diesel and labor are increasing. Drawing attention to the gap between the price the producer sells at and the market price, Akkanat emphasized that new solutions need to be developed on this issue.

The Role of Women Producers

Ayten Çot, Founder of SS. Döşemealtı Women’s Initiative Production and Management Cooperative, stated that women producers possess significant power, that women’s labor in rural areas is very valuable because women produce not only in the fields but also at home throughout the day. Çot noted that women are productive beings, that they evaluate everything they can, and share what they produce with their surroundings. Drawing attention to the fact that sustaining production is more important than producing, Çot expressed that Antalya is the capital of agriculture, supplying the entire country as well as exporting to many countries. Emphasizing the importance of preventing waste, Çot stated that she engages in contract farming, produces according to the market, and that cooperativism is the best way to organize women. Stating that she established the Döşemealtı Women’s Cooperative, Çot noted that they process the district’s rich products with a zero-waste principle, and sell products by producing and packaging them in accordance with Ministry of Health regulations.

Cooperativism Seen as a Solution

Şahin Köse, Founding Member of Kumluca Agricultural Cooperative, emphasized that the salvation of farmers lies in cooperativism. Köse stated that farmers are experiencing difficulties with input costs and marketing, and that he believes cooperatives are the most effective solution when producers lack power and cannot make their voices heard. Stating that they established the Kumluca Agricultural Development Cooperative, Köse expressed that Antalya agriculture is Turkey’s leader and that Kumluca is one of Antalya’s leading agricultural centers. Noting that they first opened a market, operated it for two years, and now engage in production and have reached an important position with the support of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, Köse emphasized that farmers need to see that their salvation lies in cooperatives and unions. Referring to the Spanish example, Köse stated that the country has approximately 2 million farmers compared to a population of 68-70 million, that farmer unions are very important there and supported by the government. Stating that Spain has gathered 2 million producers under 13 unions and solves problems in a short time, Köse expressed that the most important issue is the market, that production without a secured market is meaningless, and that the only solution is to form unions and cooperativize.