University Laboratories Open to Producers

Source: https://www.saraymedya.com/haber/baskan-erkoyuncu-konya-ovasi-kirmizi-alarmda_232880/

Ramazan Erkoyuncu, President of PANKOBİRLİK and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Konya Beet Planters Cooperative, who came together with young farmers, made important warnings about the future of Konya agriculture and called for a “red alert” for the Konya Plain.

YOUNG FARMER PROGRAM WAS HELD WITH INTENSE PARTICIPATION

Konya Seker organized Young Farmer Program for its producer partners in order to shape the future of agriculture together with young people. PANKOBİRLİK President Ramazan Erkoyuncu, KGTU Rector Prof. Dr. Erol Turan, KGTU Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kılıç, Konya Provincial Director of Youth and Sports Birdal Öztürk, Konya Provincial Director of Youth Services Harun Aydın, Chamber of Agricultural Engineers Konya Branch President Burak Kırkgöz, Konya Sugar Factory General Manager Kemal Ateş, board members, young farmers and many guests attended the program held at Konya Food and Agriculture University (KGTÜ) Conference Hall.

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT TO FARMERS FROM KGTÜ

KGTÜ Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Mehmet Kılıç, who made the opening speech of the program, drew attention to the importance of cooperation between the university and farmers. Stating that the well-equipped laboratories operating within the university are at the service of farmers at any time, Kılıç stated that they aim to provide accurate, reliable and sustainable solutions to producers with scientific-based studies.

Kılıç emphasized that predictions against agricultural risks for the next 10 years are developed especially in microbiology laboratories and that they will continue to stand by farmers as the university of Konya Seker.

THEORY AND PRACTICE IN AGRICULTURE WERE PRESENTED TO YOUNG PEOPLE TOGETHER

Konya Provincial Director of Youth Services Harun Aydın announced that Youth Camps were launched in 2025 for the first time with the theme of “Agriculture”. Stating that 2,114 young people from 81 provinces of Turkey were hosted in Hüyük Youth Camp, Aydın said that in cooperation with Konya Food and Agriculture University, theoretical trainings as well as practical field trips and workplace visits were carried out.

Stating that the program was coordinated with the Chamber of Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, public institutions and KGTU, Aydın thanked KGTU for its contribution to the training process.

WATER PROBLEM THREATENS THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE

In his speech, President Ramazan Erkoyuncu emphasized the vital importance of water for agriculture and stated that the Konya Plain is under a serious threat of drought. Erkoyuncu said, "Sustainability of agriculture is not possible without water. At the point we have reached today, the water issue has gained an extremely grave dimension. Agricultural production in the Konya Plain has become almost entirely dependent on groundwater. Our groundwater is under serious threat. As of today, we are on red alert."

BRINGING WATER TO KONYA PLAIN IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

Stating that not a single drop of water has reached Konya Plain from Çarşamba Stream for the last two years, Erkoyuncu said that this situation puts agricultural production under great risk. Emphasizing that if permanent solutions to the water problem are not produced, shrinkage in agricultural output and foreign dependency will be inevitable, Erkoyuncu stated that PANKOBİRLİK and Konya Beet Planters Cooperative are closely following the process.

AGRICULTURE WITHOUT WATER IS NOT POSSIBLE

Touching on the studies on drought-resistant seeds, Erkoyuncu stated that a completely waterless agricultural production is not possible and said, “Varieties that need less water can be developed, but a waterless production and a life without water is not possible.”

UNIVERSITY LABORATORIES OPEN TO PRODUCERS

Stating that Konya Food and Agriculture University's laboratories with advanced technology are at the service of farmers, Erkoyuncu invited producers to benefit from these opportunities. He said that the technical teams at universities are ready to provide all kinds of support to achieve higher and more efficient production from the unit area.

THE PROGRAM ENDED WITH A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION AND A GROUP PHOTO

The program ended with a collective photo shoot after President Ramazan Erkoyuncu answered questions from farmers.