History

The establishment of Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri dates back to 1863, when Mithat Pasha was the Governor of Nis and established the “Country Funds” in the town of Pirot.

Cooperation-solidarity and common interest-based associations such as “Imece” and “Ahilik”, which the Turkish nation has successfully maintained throughout history, have come to life in cooperatives today.This association from our deep-rooted past to a strong future continues to be institutionalized with Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri, which Turkish farmers establish, become partners in, manage and supervise.

The Türk Kooperatifçilik Hareketi, which continued with the “Country Funds” before the Republic and the “Benefits Funds” in 1883, continued its development during the Republic period with the “Saygın Tarımsal Birlikler Kanunu (Reputational Agricultural Unions Law)” numbered 498 in 1924 and the “Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri Law” numbered 1470 in 1929.

With the “Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri Law” numbered 2836 enacted in 1935, the establishment name and reason for existence of “Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri” were determined and their establishment was realized and the main developments occurred after this law. With this law, cooperatives were given the following duties; preventing the partners from resorting to expensive credits by providing cheap production credits and agricultural inputs, tools and machinery in order to correct, increase and value the production of the partners and thus improving their domestic and international competitive power. Tekir Farm Tarım Kredi Kooperatif was established in Silifke district of Mersin in 1936. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, by being the founder and number 1 partner of this cooperative, both demonstrated his belief in cooperatives and also guided in the application of modern agricultural techniques. Law numbered 2836, which remained in force for a long time but became inadequate over time, was replaced by Law numbered 1581 enacted in 1972 according to the developing and changing needs. The “Law on Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri and Unions” numbered 1581 allowed for the establishment of Regional Unions and Central Unions, paving the way for the vertical organization of Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri. While Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri were operating within the Ziraat Bank, they became a completely independent farmer organization with the establishment of the Tarım Kredi Kooperatifi Regional Unions in 1975 and 1976, and the Central Union on May 17, 1977. While the administrative responsibilities of Ziraat Bank ended, it continues its duties as a financing bank today.

From this point on, Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri were managed by Boards of Directors elected from among their own partners, and important steps were taken in the field of democratic cooperatives.

With the Decree Law No. 237 issued in 1984, significant changes were made in the administrative and financial structure of Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri in Law No. 1581.

This decree later became Law No. 3223 in 1985, and with this change; Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri became the relevant institution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and their supervision was also given to this ministry. With the Decree Law No. 553 issued in 1995, significant changes were made in the administrative structure and the democratic structure envisaged in Law No. 1581 was returned. In addition to the establishment of all Boards of Directors in the Central Union, Regional Unions and Kooperatifler through elections, the election of the chairmen of the boards of directors from among the members of the board of directors, the election of the auditors in the Regional Unions and Kooperatifler, in addition to the two elected auditors in the Central Union, one auditor appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and one auditor appointed by the Ziraat Bank.

Democratic and independent Tarım Kredi KooperatifleriThe legal arrangements of the Institution were finalized with the law on the amendment of the Law No. 5330 on Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri and Unions and the amendment and acceptance of the Decree Law No. 553 on Amendments to the Law on Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri and Unions, which entered into force upon publication in the Official Gazette dated April 12, 2005, and with this new regulation;

• Kooperatifler were made democratic and autonomous.
• The principle of solidarity among cooperatives was included in legal regulation for the first time in our country.
• The way has been opened for our farmers to obtain agricultural loans under suitable conditions.
• Our cooperatives have gained full agency rights in insurance transactions.
• The way has been opened for our farmers to be provided with cheap fuel.

 
Since it is possible for all kinds of credit needs of cooperatives, regional unions and central union to be met from other domestic banks, finance or credit institutions in addition to TC Ziraat Bankası, the duty of the auditor representing TC Ziraat Bankası has ended and with this regulation, it was deemed appropriate to assign a total of 3 auditors, two of whom were elected and one of whom was appointed to represent the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, to the central union and the institutional legal regulation has been finalized. Tarım Kredi Kooperatifleri, which reached its current organizational structure with the Şanlıurfa Regional Union established on April 6, 2017, provide services to Turkish farmers all over our country with 1 central union, 17 regional unions, 1618 cooperatives, numerous service offices and affiliates.