Photo: © FAO

Bolu, Türkiye – Practical activities for farmers demonstrating sustainable agroecological farming techniques were held in Seben and Yeniçağa over a two-day period. The Farmers Field School (FFS) activities, organized as part of the project “Promoting Ecosystem-Based Food Production through the Development of Agro-Ecology Management System in Bolu”, were coordinated by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The practical demonstrations focused specifically on assessing the performance of legumes and forage crops.

The project in Bolu aims to share experience and knowledge on agroecological farming with local farmers, and focuses on improving the environment for sustainable agricultural ecosystems and land management. The FFS activities were coordinated by the Field Crops Central Research Institute and conducted in demonstration plots with the participation of experts and farmers from the Bolu Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry and the Seben and Yeniçağa District Directorates.

The first field activity of the two-day Farmer Field School was held in Seben district, where farmers received practical information and exchanged views on lentil and chickpea cultivation in demonstration plots established in Güneyce Village. Farmers and participants examined the crops and made mutual assessments regarding the adaptation and performance of the recommended varieties in the region. The green lentil (Bozok and Karagül) and chickpea (Tunç) varieties, previously planted as summer crops, exhibited a very high level of adaptation to regional conditions. The participants also evaluated weed management, potential pest and disease issues, and harvest methods. The farmers explained to the experts and the FAO team that the lentil varieties, in particular, had adapted well and showed promise for the future.

On the second day of the FFS activity, the participants assessed the growth of Hungarian vetch, planted as a winter crop, in the pilot locations in Yeniçağa district. The Kansur Hungarian vetch variety had been planted both as a sole crop and mixed with barley in the demonstration plots, the results of which were discussed by the experts and farmers in order to evaluate the crop’s performance in each case. The Kansur Hungarian vetch variety performed well both as a sole crop and in mixed planting, particularly when mixed with barley, showing great promise for the region. The assessments further indicate the potential of Hungarian vetch to help develop livestock production in the district and the province, while its leguminous properties can contribute to soil fertility by providing nitrogen and organic matter.

The participants also observed the high level of bee activity in the demonstration area and concluded that Hungarian vetch could contribute significantly to beekeeping, due to the positive impact of bees on the pollination ecosystem service, increasing fruit and vegetable yields.

The farmers participating in the activity freely shared their experiences and observations regarding forage crop production in the region, and stressed the urgent need for forage crops suited to local conditions.

The experts and the farmers furthermore emphasized the importance and value of the experiment’s agroecological contributions for the project region and beyond, emphasizing the global potential of agroecological farming.