TİKA Supports Agriculture in Northern Syria

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) implemented the “Strawberry Gardens Project” in Afrin District in cooperation with the Hatay Directorate of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry.

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood in Afrin District. In the district, there are a total of 150,000 hectares of agricultural land and approximately 22,500 farmers cultivating these lands. The district, which is known for olive cultivation, has a suitable climate for strawberry cultivation as well.  However, as strawberries cannot be grown in the district, the demand for strawberries is met from outside the district.

As part of the project implemented in cooperation with the Hatay Directorate of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry, TİKA built strawberry gardens, while the Hatay Directorate of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry provided training for farmers in strawberry cultivation.

As part of the project, which aims to enable small landowners to engage in production and increase their income by diversifying their sources of livelihood, a strawberry garden of 1,000 sq. meters was built per farmer in the district.

The project aims to make strawberry cultivation widespread, increase production, improve the welfare of local farmers, meet the need for strawberries internally, rather than from other regions, and promote the cultivation of small lands.

TİKA aims to continue to implement micro-scale and income-generating agricultural projects in the district.