Unlocking the potential of Fig in Türkiye through One Country One Priority Product Initiative

12 December 2023, Aydın – Türkiye has taken a major step forward to promote fig as its special agricultural product under the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The national launch event took place at the Fig Research Institute in Aydın, Türkiye on 7-8 December, jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the FAO Country Office in Türkiye.

This two-day event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including senior officials from the central and local governments, academia, the private sector, farmers, traders, and other value chain actors, to exchange ideas and discuss ways for strategic collaboration to strengthen the fig sector.

The event started with remarks from Ms Dr. Birgül ERTAN, Director of the Fig Research Institute; Mr. Özcan TÜRKOĞLU, Senior Programme Coordinator, FAO Türkiye; and Mr. Davut KELEŞ, Head of Department for Horticultural Crops at the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies (TAGEM), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye.

As keynote presentations, Mr. Hafiz Muminjanov, OCOP global coordinator of FAO,  shared the progress of OCOP implementation at the global level to set the scene, while OCOP Regional Focal Point for Europe and Central Asia Mr. Pedro Arias and OCOP National Focal Point Dr. Aysen Alay Vural from the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies shared insights on context and priority areas to develop the fig value chain in the country. Mr Samir Demdoum, from the FAO Country Office in Algeria, and Mrs. Naima Bouras, deputy director of Organic Farming and Labelling, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Algeria, shared the context and background of choosing fig as the special agricultural product of Algeria.

Participants visiting fig storage and processing facilities of Tarish Cooperative. ©FAO/Ecenaz Yüzbaşıoğlu

The third session delved into the practical aspects of OCOP initiative implementation in Türkiye. Professor Uygun Aksoy, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Ecological Agriculture Organization (ETO), moderated the session, where speakers highlighted the immense potential of exporting various processed products of figs.

The speakers of the sessions included Mr. Yusuf GABAY, Vice President of the Aegean Exporters' Associations Dried Fruits and Products Association; Professor Senih YAZGAN, President of the Uludağ Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association; Professor Ferit ÇOBANOĞLU and Professor Engin ERTAN from Adnan Menderes University; Professor Fatih ŞEN, Ege University; and other esteemed experts and sector leaders.

The workshop was followed by parallel group discussions, exploring key aspects of OCOP implementation, including coordination and synergies, technical support and capacity development, stakeholder engagement, and resource mobilization. The outcomes of the group discussions were presented with recommendations to strengthen the fig sector.

The event concluded with remarks from Mr. Hafiz Muminjanov, who emphasized the importance of collective actions to make the initiative successful.

The success of the FAO National Launch Event for OCOP in Türkiye marks the beginning of a significant transformation in the fig sector, reflecting Türkiye's commitment to the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in the country.

Demonstration of different fig products. © FAO/Ecenaz Yüzbaşıoğlu

On the second day, participants embarked on a field visit to the Fig Research Institute facilities and explored exemplary practices at the fig drying facilities in the region, gaining valuable insights into the storage and processing industry's best practices.

About One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) İnitiative

FAO launched the Global Action on “One Country One Priority Product” (OCOP) in September 2021 to contribute to the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Global Action on OCOP will promote inclusive, profitable, and environmentally sustainable food systems through the development of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs). The aim is to optimize the production systems, minimize food loss and waste and the misuse of agricultural chemicals, and maximize incomes to enable the transition to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. OCOP is an initiative that focuses on diversification, unlocking the untapped potential of agricultural products, and identifying and addressing gaps in the value chain.

At a fig processing centre. © FAO