Photo:©FAO

Ankara, Turkey – As the first step of the project, the Trainer Training program was initiated with an online meeting held yesterday. It is one of the most important projects conducted by FAO in Turkey and supported by the EU Regional Trust Fund (MADAD).
The speakers were Assistant FAO Representative for Turkey Dr. Ayşegül Selışık; Director-General for International Labor Force of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services Sadettin Akyıl; and Deputy Director-General for EU & Foreign Relations Volkan Güngören. Other attendees included Provincial Directors of Agriculture from İzmir, Adana, Bursa, Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Manisa, Kahramanmaraş, and Van; representatives from the Chamber of Agriculture; and officials from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services.
Dr. Ayşegül Selışık, Assistant FAO Representative for Turkey, made opening remarks for the meeting. In her speech, she emphasized their commitment to continue working in full-capacity despite the pandemic. Selışık stated that a total of 6 thousand people will benefit from the project in İzmir, Adana, Bursa, Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Manisa, Kahramanmaraş, and Van. She pointed out that one of the critical aspects of the global fight against Covid-19 is ensuring agriculture and food production as well as logistics. Selışık stated that the crisis affected over 3.5 million SUTPs living in Turkey as well as vulnerable local communities the most. She added that they give trainings to these populations on advanced agricultural techniques by means of the project. Selışık pointed out that the projects, prepared based on regional projections, will contribute to agricultural employment. She stated that employment fairs and employment desks to be held in each province will be pioneering in this respect. Dr. Selışık also gave the good news that those who would like to establish their own business among the participants of training programmes and projects will be given grants.
Sadettin Akyıl, Director-General for International Labor Force of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, spoke next. He indicated that they made 5-year projections in the beginning of Syrian crisis and that it is important to make longer-lasting projections now. Akyıl added that he has no doubt that the projects will be successful.
Volkan Güngören, Deputy Director-General for EU & Foreign Relations, spoke following him. He reminded that Turkey's response to the Syrian crisis from the beginning is much appreciated by the international community. Güngören indicated that they aim at further improving living conditions of refugees under temporary protection in Turkey through new projects.
Following the opening remarks, FAO experts provided the participants and field trainers with information about the trainings.