Fark Yaratanlar
Economic Development

Yeşim Bekyürek - Cappadocia Organic Agriculture Producers Association

Born in Ankara to a family of farmers, Yeşim Bekyürek spent all her childhood summers in Izmir working in the fields and gardens, which deepened her connection to agriculture and animals. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Plant Protection and later completed a Ph.D. in entomology, the study of insects. She began her career in Kars and was subsequently assigned to Kayseri, where she dedicated 20 years to studying conventional agriculture. Yeşim is currently employed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Having spent most of her career on agricultural land, she turned to organic farming after a family of producers consulted her for advice. She undertook extensive training to advance in this field and, in 2009, joined with others who shared her passion for organic farming to establish the Cappadocia Organic Agriculture Producers Association (KAPTAR). Supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, the association continues its activities, including farmer training and establishing markets and booths for selling organic products. It also aims to involve women producers in all its initiatives.

Karahıdır village was the starting point for the Association's work, where producers had already integrated practices similar to organic farming and used local seeds in their agricultural processes. Yeşim initially contacted the village headman and subsequently persuaded producer families to try organic farming. Since 2013, they have partnered with Kocasinan Municipality to establish a producers' market that provides organic certified products to consumers and remains the only continuous seasonal market Gender equality is emphasized at the market, which operates annually from August to November. Each family is required to have a female member present to set up a stall at the market. Over the past 11 years, producers have generated nearly 10 million Turkish lira in turnover from selling 1.5 million kilograms of organic fruits and vegetables.

The Association also assists farmers seeking organic farming certification by providing guidance and intermediary support. In 2017, in collaboration with Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, the Association established the Natural Products Garden, which includes dedicated areas for anyone wanting to experiment with organic farming. The Association provides training for those interested in working in this garden. In 2018, it led efforts to help women farmers within the organization establish the Women Farmers Ecological Education and Production Center (KAÇEM) Cooperative. The organization continues to assist the women they partnered with on the organic farming journey by providing production areas for selling their products and by offering diverse training programs, such as sales and packaging.

Advocating for the integration of organic farming into education policies and asserting that access to clean food is a fundamental right, Yeşim and the Cappadocia Organic Agriculture Producers Association initially worked with seven producer families on 20 acres. Today, they have grown to 34 producer families on 170 acres. Through her work, Yeşim contributes to rural development and continues to make a difference by ensuring that women have a voice in organic farming.

Season 15th - Epsiode 6

Date: 10.7.2024

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