FAO begins training for breeders in Şanlıurfa
Ankara – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has organized a three-day field training session with local breeders in Şanlıurfa to share information and best practices about sustainable grazing management in steppe pastures and biodiversity conservation in grazed areas. The training forms part of the “Conservation And Sustainable Management Of Turkey’s Steppe Ecosystems” project, which has been developed with the support of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MoAF), and is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The training session is targeted at those working in animal husbandry, headmen, shepherds and users of steppe pastures. Some 40 local people will participate including local breeding groups, shepherds, stakeholders working with livestock and representatives of the Sheep and Goat Breeders’ Association in Şanlıurfa and the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality Rural Development Unit. The sessions will be held in the Kizilkuyu Wildlife Development Area, the TekTek Mountains National Park and the Karacadağ steppes – the focus areas of the project.
One of the main activities of the project is raising awareness about grazing management and planning with a view to maintaining the natural integrity and balance of pastures in the steppe. Breeders and shepherds are important actors in the steppe ecosystem, and a central focus of the project. Equipping breeders with new knowledge and technologies is therefore essential to establishing a sustainable grazing system and ensuring the sustainable management of steppe pastures. The training sessions are designed to increase the awareness and knowledge of participants, especially regarding the effects of current practices on rangeland and biodiversity, and to share up-to-date information on the importance and conservation of steppe pastures and animal husbandry.
The field training sessions are led by Prof. Mehmet Ali Çullu, Prof. Dr Tahir Polat, Prof. Dr Omar Faruk Kaya and Prof. Dr Şükrü Gürler of Harran University, with the technical support of Ali Riza Özturkmek and the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in collaboration with FAO and PGlobal Global Advisory and Training Services. The National Project Coordinator of FAO and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Şanlıurfa Provincial and Regional Directorates of Agriculture and Forestry will participate in the training, which is expected to contribute to strengthening communication and cooperation between users and managers of steppe pastures.
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