Since agriculture project implementation is very rare in Turkey lessons learned are very important. Welthungerhilfe implemented one of the biggest agricultural humanitarian project in Turkey supported by BMZ. You may find details of project, challenges, and lessons learned.

1. Difficulties and Solutions to Agricultural
Projects Implementation in Turkey

2. CONTENT:
I. General Information
II. Difficulties and Solutions
A. Planning
B. Lands
C. Beneficiaries
D. The Markets
E. Government

3. I . General Information

4. Welthungerhilfe is a private, non-profit-making, politically
independent and non-denominational organization that supports
people living in deprivation and poverty, It was founded in 1962 under
the umbrella of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
WHH supports people in 38 countries
WELTHUNGERHILFE
WHH1

5. Supporting the Syrian refugee families in achieving food security
through in-come generating production of Agricultural products.
Purpose:
Providing food security and contributing to the national economy by
increasing the knowledge of the beneficiaries about agriculture to
grow their own vegetables which they can use for consumption.
What is the Goal of
the project2

6. Openland Agriculture
• Mardin / Midyat (Local Cucumber)
• Hatay /Altınözü ( Capia Pepper)
• Hatay /Yayladağı ( Capia Pepper)
Greenhouse
• Mardin / Midyat (Hydroponic)
• Gaziantep / Nurdağı (Hydroponic)
• Hatay / Yayladağı (Mushroom)
• Hatay / Altınözü (Olive Seedling)
What Kind of Component do we have?
Which locations are we working?3
Beneficiaries Number
250 Families
135 Families
135 Families
Beneficiaries Number
35 Families
35 Families
50 Families
50 Families

7. II . Difficulties and Solutions

8. A - PLANNING

9. In some rural communities, it could be hard to find and lease lands
because locals don’t understand or trust what Humanitarian Aid
Organisations do, and they have some concerns that they could be
victims of fraud or their fields could be stolen or taken from them.
Some Locals’ Lack Of Trust Towards
Humanitarian Aid Organisations1
Solution :
1 -Act in accordance with local authorities
2- Provide information about the humanitarian aid and funds , raise
awareness

10. Challenge :
Planning agricultural activities in more than one location or district in a
province which requires good planning efforts with extra expenses
and uncertain results.
Location of the Project
Location of the Land2

11. Location of the Project
Location of the Land3
Solution :
1- Location of the Fields: The location of the Fields should be as close
to each other as possible. Otherwise, more manpower is needed,
and operating costs will multiply.
2- Transportation: Mostly, agricultural areas aren’t within walking
distance from The inhabited areas. Therefore, providing
transportation should be considered in the planned agricultural
activity

12. Challenge :
Delaying and Postponing the assessment and the selection process
after all services are done.
Assesment and
Beneficiaries’ Selection4
Solution :
1- Beneficiaries’ assessment and selection process should be made
immediately after leasing the lands and before the agricultural
services are finalized so they can observe, learn, and be participate.

13. Unexpected climatic
changes5
Solution :
1- When planning agricultural activities, it’s necessary to have
sufficient information of the product and the area, and the
problems that had been experienced about the product should be
taken into consideration.
2- You must have a backup plan that you can resort to in such
conditions
Challenge :
Changing climate conditions can contradict your plan and put back the
already planned services schedule and affect the productivity.

14. B - LANDS

15. Challenge :
As there are scattered small fields in the related area its essential to
communicate with many different landlords.
The Small Fields With
Many Landlords1
Solution :
Assigning one focal point from their side to have a power of
attorney for all of the fields could facilitate the leasing and the
communication process

16. Challenge :
When the farmers cultivate their fields, they don’t accurately go
back to the cadastral specific measures, and with the passage of
time, the measures defer, and fields could be intersected with the
adjacent ones.
Solution :
Starting with the cadastric service before the fields are cultivated so
that it's possible to re-adjust any mismatch.
Mismatch Between Some Fields And
Their Official Locations2

17. Challenge :
Some landlords live abroad, and they had assigned the cultivation
of their fields to a family member without a power of attorney or
official papers, which makes the leasing process complicated and
time consuming. Likewise some landlords lease their lands without
having an official agreement.
Unclear Documents of
Ownership3
Solution :
1- To have deep analysis of the lands’ ownership
2- To decrese the risks by means of having strong coordination and
co-operation with the local authorieties such as ‘’muhtars’’

18. Challenge :
Irrigated fields make good profit to owners so they either cultivate it
themselves or lease it for high prices.
Limited Irrigated Fields And
High Prices4
Solution :
1- To change the type of the product or to change location so as to
have more effective result
2- To do the marketing research related to the product
while planning the project.

19. Can not find lands to lease and pay more than normal price and
convince people to lease their lands.
Increasing cost of the lands and
Effect to Local Market5
Solution :
Lands should be leased on base of market value otherwise it may
increase market value and it may effect families who wants lease
their own lands next seasons.

20. Challenge :
The water flow of the irrigated agricultural area is not sufficient for
the rented land
Waterflow in irrigated fields
6
Solution :
1- The irrigation method of the agricultural area should be decided
and the agricultural land should be rented according to this
method.
2- Before leasing land, make sure that the water flow of the land is
sufficient for the rented land.

21. C - BENEFICIARIES

22. Challenge :
Some of the agricultural activities during harvest take place out of
working hours which makes it difficult to be around all the time to
supervise and facilitate their work.
The Challange of Monitoring And
Controlling the Beneficiaries During
Harvest
1
Solution :
1- To hire an external supervisor (observer)
2- To be in contact with the beneficiaries in person or by hotline
service and feedback mechanism created by the project team

23. Limited number of participants in some
cases2
Despite the information provided to the beneficıaries there are limited
number of appilcants due to their rapid profit preferences
Solution :
To explain the importance of practicing this profession as a
sustainable source of income.

24. D – THE MARKETS

25. Language Barrier
in Marketing Process1
The beneficiaries have difficulties in expressing themselves due to
the language barrier. This results in miscommunication which is
extremely challenging in the marketing process
Solution :
1-To provide mutual marketing plans to the beneficiary and to
enable the beneficiary to sell his/her products to markets true trader
or by themselves

26. It is important to select the right products for the project which
shouldn’t affect the market negatively.
The Negative Effect On The
Local Markets2
Solution :
1- To have market analysis during the planning process of the
project
2- To select the right products at the right time and put the products
on the market
3- Permanent Monitoring Activities on Prices

27. Beneficiaries and their produce could be targeted or exploited by
some people or vegetable traders in the market making use of the
fact that they don’t speak the language or maybe unprotected,
and that requires:
Protecting The Beneficiaries From
Froud And Exploitation3
Solution :
1- Continuous observation and follow up with beneficiaries as well as
training them and providing them with advice and information
needed.
2- Creating a complaint and feedback mechanism to prevent the
exploitation or fraud

28. E - GOVERNMENT
It is not easy to welcome over 3
million refugees in one country.
Therefore the Turkish Government
has made real efforts and energy
so as to fullfill the humanitarian
projects needs successfully.
Despite these efforts, some
problems, difficulties may arise.

29. Changes in the regulation of the permission process prolongs the
project cycle and makes it harder to start the project activities on
time
The Frequently Changed Regulations Related To
Humanitarian Projects And Reaching Beneficiaries.1
Solution:
1- To have the right communication with the related stakeholders or
authorities in accordance with the liaison activities
2- To strengthen the co-ordination between the governmental
bodies, to priorities attendance to the meetings organized

30. In some cases, the project could be terminated due to an
administrative decision like beneficiaries could be relocated in other
camps during harvest time, in such these sudden decisions, it
requires a prompt reaction to find alternatives especially during the
times of harvest.
Solution :
Studying plan B alternatives while designing and planning the
project
Unexpected Decisions Made By
The Authorities2

31. THANK YOU