anic Agriculture C P Org luster GA www.gaporganik.org GAP ORGANIC AGRICULTURE CLUSTER PROJECT The Organic Agriculture Cluster Project in the Southeast Anatolia Region is being implemented by Southeast Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration (GAP RDA) in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project aims at increasing national and international competitiveness of the organic sector in the Southeast Anatolia Region, and at a higher scale, contribute to socio-economic development of the Region. The Organic Agriculture Cluster Roadmap, which includes the basic strategies and actions to achieve this goal, highlights creating replicable and scalable success stories, developing strong production and marketing infrastructure, and improving cooperation among local economic actors as the key success factors to enhancing the competitiveness of the organic agriculture sector. Cluster’s Vision By 2023, the GAP Region will be Turkey’s leading supplier of organic textiles and food raw material, and innovative and competitive organic production attraction center with its broad and fertile irrigated agricultural land. Implementation Strategy Develop cooperation among the cluster’s actors, create “replicable” and/or “scalable” success stories. Key Success Factors • Replicable and scalable success stories • Strong production and marketing infrastructure • Improvement of cooperation among actors Project Implementation The Organic Agriculture Cluster Roadmap is implemented under three main components: 1. Creating Replicable and Scalable Success Stories • Identification of pilot actions for basins and products • Preparation and implementation of pilot action business plans • Development and implementation of replication and scaling model 2. Developing Production and Marketing Abilities and Skills • Formulation of the business model for Organic Agriculture Consultancy and Dissemination Center (OTADAM) and preparation of its business plan • Implementation of business plan • Developing GAP Organic Portal 3. Improvement of Cooperation among Actors • Establishment of cluster management structure • Establishing working groups and designing and implementing activities Activities to Date 1. Under the component “Creating Replicable and Scalable Success Stories”, pilot projects were launched. • Project for Increased Productivity and Enhanced Value in Organic Production in Eğil District of Diyarbakır • Project on Enhancing the Competitiveness of Organic Olive Oil in the Province of Kilis • Pilot project for Plant Protection and Biological Control by Organic Plant Nutrition and Use of Organic Inputs in the Southeast Anatolia Region • Project for Organic Cotton Production Training, and Dissemination Project in Diyarbakır province 2. Under the component “Developing Production and Marketing Abilities and Skills, the works were realized for the establishment of GAP Organic Agriculture Portal, institutionalization of the cluster and establishment of GAP OTADAM, and implementation of the Financial Support Program. The needs assessment study was conducted for the GAP Organic Agriculture Portal (www.gaporganik.org), portal model defined, contents and design completed. In order to facilitate the institutionalization of the cluster, GAP Organic Cluster Association (GAP ORKÜDER) was established in January 3rd, 2016. In addition, the works are underway to establish the Organic Agriculture Consultancy and Dissemination Center (OTADAM) to provide services in the design and implementation of qualified sectoral and/or product-based projects in order to provide business development services to the association as well as economic actors (farmers, union, cooperative, businesses etc.) in the organic agriculture value chain, and contribute to increasing the competitiveness of the Region in the organic sector. The “GAP Organic Agriculture Value Chain Pilot Projects Financial Support Program” was designed and implemented to develop production, processing and institutional capacities of the service recipients in the establishment phase of GAP OTADAM. The GAP Organic Agriculture Value Chain Pilot Projects Financial Support Program was initiated in cooperation and coordination with İpekyolu Development Agency (TRC1-Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis provinces), Karacadağ Development Agency (TRC2-Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır provinces) and Dicle Development Agency (TRC3-Mardin, Batman, Şırnak, Siirt provinces) under the coordination of the Ministry of Development, Southeast Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration (GAP RDA). The aim of the Financial Support Program is to contribute to strengthening the organic agriculture value chain in GAP Region and develop sustainable regional, national and international cooperation among the organic agriculture value chain actors; increasing the competitiveness and effectiveness of the regional organic agriculture value chain; developing sustainable, market-oriented intra- and/or inter-regional trade cooperation among economic actors (producers unions, processors, retailers etc.) operating in the organic sector. The total budget of the GAP Organic Agriculture Value Chain Pilot Projects Financial Support Program is 9 million TL which will be implemented in 2015, 2016, and 2017. 17 projects were implemented in 2015 under the Financial Support Program. GAP OTADAM provides free technical guidance and information services to all applicants for the Program in order to develop qualified project proposals in the context of the objectives of the Financial Support Program, sectoral priorities and needs and regional potentials. GAP OTADAM will continue to provide technical guidance and information services during the implementation of those projects identified to receive project financing support under the Program to increase impact and efficiency. 3. Under the component “Improvement of Cooperation among Actors”, the governance structure for the cluster was defined, work groups were established and works were conducted in various thematic areas. In order to realize the priorities and actions as prescribed in the Cluster Roadmap in a participative process, a Steering Committee, two Working Groups in charge of activity-based technical planning and implementation, and an Executive Board as the decision making body were formed. The thematic areas for working groups are organic food and organic textiles. ADVICE Cluster Steering Committee (GAP RDA, MoFAL, KOSGEB, Development Agencies, Universities, Chambers, Exchanges, Cooperatives, Unions etc) DECISION Cluster Executive Board (7-10 persons from the Cluster Steering Committee) IMPLEMENTATION Cluster Coordinator GAP RDA- UNDP (Full-time staff) Works as a Secretariat in the context of Organic Organic GAP Organic Textile Working Food Working Agriculture Group Group Cluster Project For further information: Arzu Karaarslan Azizoğlu Tel: +90 414 347 2084 E-mail: [email protected] Hakan Yıldız Tel: +90 414 317 2081 E-mail: [email protected] ORGANIC AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA REGION (GAP REGION) MARDIN OLIVE PRODUCERS UNION Area of Activity : Olive, Olive Oil Location : Mardin Product Name : - Start of Production : 2008 Land Size : 40.000 decares Land Status : Mountainous area Annual Production : 2.000 tons Product Certification : - Brief Information Mardin Olive Producers Union aspires to enter other markets, arising ambitiously from the motherland of olive, with its quality and richness in variety boasting more than 10 types specific to the region where no chemical pesticides or fertilizers have been used, and grown in a transitional zone of Mediterranean climate along the Mardin mountain range. Mardin Olive Producers Union is a member of GAP Organic Agriculture Cluster. Supporting Institution(s) / Organization(s) GAP Regional Development Administration Contact Erkan Doğan, President of Mardin Olive Producers Union Tel-Fax: +90 482 252 19 59 GSM: +90 0505 756 50 28 E-mail: [email protected] GAPNATURA Area of Activity : Organic Pomegranate and Dib Roman Location : Şanlıurfa Product Name : Katine Start of Production : 2010 Land Size : 400 decares Land Status : Irrigated agriculture Annual Production : 8.000 kg Product Certification : Yes Brief Information GAPNATURA purchases organic pomegranates grown in Şanlıurfa from farmers who produce through the contract farming method. All stages from planting the saplings in the soil to full growth, from processing to the consumer’s table are controlled. Products are processed in facilities that hold organic certification and ISO 9001 - ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems Certification, and marketed with the brand name KATINE. GAPNATURA also places on domestic and international markets such high quality organic agriculture products of the region as olive oil, mulberry molasses, honey, pistachio, lentil and chickpea; and offers consulting services on organic production and marketing. GAPNATURA is a member of GAP Organic Agriculture Cluster. Supporting Institution(s) / Organization(s) GAP Regional Development Administration, Karacadağ Development Agency, European Union Funds, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization), TEKNOKENT, Harran University Contact Medet Abbasoğlu, Pharmacist, Chairman of the Management Board Tel: +90 414 247 24 15 • Fax: +90 414 247 24 15 GSM: +90 0532 253 22 01 Address: Refahiye Mh. 281. Sk. Özburak Apt. No: 7/1 63300 Haliliye, Şanlıurfa E-mail: [email protected] www.gapnatura.com.tr YUSUFCAN