TİKA Supports the Agricultural Fight against Red Palm Weevils in the TRNC

The agricultural pesticides provided by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) were delivered to the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC to be used to combat red palm weevils, which are harmful to date palm trees.

A year’s supply of agricultural pesticides was delivered to the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) to be used to combat red palm weevils, which cause damage to 2,000 date palm trees in Lefke, which is the center of date in the TRNC and host the Date Palm Festival every year.

The delivery ceremony of the agricultural pesticides provided by TİKA was held at the Lefke Venetian Aqueducts and was attended by the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC Dursun Oğuz, Mayor of Lefke Aziz Kaya, District Governor of Lefke Sadi Güneş, TİKA’s Nicosia Office Coordinator Havva Pınar Özcan Küçükçavuş, and Rector of the European University of Lefke Mehmet Ali Yücelen.

Delivering the opening speech of the ceremony, TİKA’s Nicosia Coordinator Havva Pınar Özcan Küçükçavuş pointed out the importance of date palm trees for Lefke and said that TİKA delivered the pesticides to officials to be used for the agricultural fight against pests. Providing information about TİKA’s activities, Küçükçavuş noted that TİKA contributed to the protection of forests and the environment in many countries. Pointing out the importance of timely intervention in the case of pest infestation, Küçükçavuş said that they would protect date palm trees, a symbol of Lefke.

Mayor of Lefke Aziz Kaya stressed the importance of date for Lefke and noted that ores used to be carried in baskets made of date palm leaves in Lefke, which has long been known as a mining town. Stating that the material value of dates fluctuates and that their financial value for the region has increased over time, Kaya added that date palm trees are also important for landscaping in Lefke. Kaya stressed the importance of pesticide spraying by noting that the red palm weevils brought by the date palm trees imported from Egypt in 2006 killed approximately 200 date palm trees.

Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the TRNC Dursun Oğuz said that the event was very meaningful and that date palm trees are identified with Lefke and reflect the history of the town. Noting that these pests emerge due to environmental factors and the disturbance of the ecological balance, Oğuz stressed that the continuity and totality of the fight are important for the eradication of the pests in the region. Stating that they would continue this fight to protect historic date palm trees for future generations, Oğuz thanked the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Nicosia and TİKA for their contribution to the supply of pesticides. Dursun Oğuz noted that TİKA responded their request in only one month and provided pesticides and that the Ministry would contribute to the fight against these pests with the available resources.

The Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri pointed out the importance and meaning of date palm trees for Lefke and said that these trees have existed on the island since the initial settlement of the Ottomans. Başçeri stated that in addition to date palm trees, orange and walnut trees contribute to economic wealth in Lefke. He thanked TİKA for its contribution to the fight against red palm weevils.