III. In the opening program of the Agriculture and Forestry Council, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Bekir Pakdemirli spoke.

The largest participation council in history

Minister Pakdemirli stated that there has been an intense interest in the Council from our citizens in the 4 months that have passed since July 17, when the introductory meeting of the Agriculture Forest Council was held, and announced that more than 23 thousand proposals were received. Pakdemirli; "We said, "5-year plan, 25-year light"! And today; We came together for the future of "Agriculture", the future of "Food", the sustainability of "Forests", and the future of "Water"! We wanted to determine the future of "food", "water" and "breath" together! Thank you; Our nation is a sensitive nation that listens to every call we make and shows sensitivity to every national issue! As of now; The number of opinions reported to the Council on our website has exceeded 23,000 and this Council has been recorded as "the most widely attended Council" in our history! Best wishes! Thanks to our nation, let it exist!'' He said.

Pointing out that agriculture has undergone a great change and transformation all over the world, Minister Pakdemirli stated that we can only stand against this change by using our resources correctly, planning production, ensuring sustainability and especially reading the results correctly. Pakdemirli's words continued like "For example, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization "FAO": By 2050, the world's population will approach 10 billion, and to feed this population, the current food production should be increased by 50 percent at every opportunity! In 2050, the population of our country is expected to exceed 100 million! A similar picture is also valid for our country! Therefore, our farmers, producers and breeders have a great responsibility here! I hope we will make Turkish Agriculture a world brand together with your efforts, your hands and your efforts!'' 

"Young people, train them, win so we don't get lost"

Minister Pakdemirli, who said, "We must establish love from seed to sapling, trust from field to fork", emphasized the importance of encouraging young people to agriculture. Pakdemirli; “We are an advantageous country in terms of historical and geographical location! Our geography is full of underground and aboveground riches! Our geographical indication product potential is 2,500! The number of endemic plants is more than the total of continental Europe! Our soil is fertile, our water is high quality! Our cultivated agricultural land is 1/3 of the country's area! Our pasture areas are 1 in 5! 1/3 of our forest lands! Well; This treasure is waiting for you, our young people, for you to process and produce!” he called to the youth.

Minister Pakdemirli, “Our country's agricultural product; We are in the top 10 in the world and in the first place in Europe! We are in the first place in Europe with our 68 million bovine and ovine livestock! Geographically, we are at the very center of the region, which has an agricultural trade volume of 1.9 trillion dollars, and even the world! Here we have the largest airport in the world and Europe! 60% of the world's airline traffic passes through our airspace! The heart of the historical silk road still beats in these lands! With all this infrastructure, our strategic location; Together, we should get a bigger share of the wealth and prosperity of the region we live in! Most important of all; The country with the youngest population in Europe, with a population of 82 million, is our country! So we have a youth like poison! Bride! Let's overcome agriculture, make water our business, and forests our future together! You educate yourself, you win so that our eyes will not be left behind!''

In the last 17 years, our agricultural output has increased by 486 percent.

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Pakdemirli explained the distance covered in agriculture with the support given in the last 17 years; ''In the last 17 years; With the support we provide and of course your efforts, we have increased our agricultural output by 486 percent! Our herbal production has increased by 20 percent in the last 17 years!

We have proven once again that we are a net exporting country by increasing our agricultural exports by approximately 5 times. In addition to our position as the world leader in hazelnut, fig, cherry, quince, apricot and raisin production; world leader in the export of hazelnuts, figs, dried apricots and raisins; We are the third in the world in cherry and quince exports! While our country was 11th in the world in flour and pasta exports in 2002, it has been in the first place in the world since 2005! Thanks to the Grant Programs, we provided employment to 200,000 citizens in rural development areas! Today, Turkey has become a country that produces its own seeds and exports seeds to 86 countries! Again in the last 17 years, we have increased our seed production 7 times and our seed exports 9 times! In other words, with the devotion of our people, we have made Turkey a seed exporting country!''

"Strong agriculture means strong Turkey"

Minister Pakdemirli stated that efforts will continue to increase productivity in the agricultural sector and efficiency in the world market. He stated that with the Agriculture Forest Council, a road map that will shed light on 25 years will be determined with a 5-year plan. Minister Pakdemirli stated that an "agricultural information plan project library" was created with great interest from all stakeholders of the sector during the last 4 months consultation process. Pakdemirli continued his words as follows; "For example, one of the most valuable achievements of our Council is that an "agricultural information plan project library" was created with a repository of 30 thousand ideas and projects consisting of around 7,000 telephone calls, e-mails and letters and 23 thousand views on the web page. ! Personally, among the titles of our working groups; Smart agricultural technologies, long-term and technology-based agricultural policies, "Consume Where You Produce!" I was happy when I read the zero kilometer approach with the goal!

I was proud when I saw works that were directed towards technology, R&D and innovation! When I read about projects that aim to establish an ecotourism infrastructure and try to solve the problem of scale through cooperatives, I am fully convinced that a very important "recommendation roadmap" will emerge from the Council! We always say "Strong Agriculture means Strong Turkey"!''