Environmental policy and administrative management

The overall objective is to conserve soil, water and wetlands with sustainable agricultural practices (effective water use, fertilizers) in the semi-dry lands of Central Anatolia. The project aims to demonstrate and disseminate the experiences of the Kayseri Sugar Beet Cooperative in using drip irrigation for sugar beet production. The NGO has been actively involved in the demonstration of the activity since 2005 in their region, which is a regular land for cultivation of sugar beet. With the SGP project, the project aims to improve the existing drip irrigation systems, install newer and more effective ones based on the experiences of the previous year. The project envisages a wide campaign for the promotion of drip irrigation including preparation of booklets, brochures and a video film. Turkey s 1.3 million ha of wetlands has been degraded in the 20th century due to unsustainable water use and management practices specifically for irrigation. Traditional irrigation methods are wasteful, in addition, thirsty crops particularly sugarbeet consume much water than the other crops. Some practices indicate that transforming traditional irrigation system into modern system namely drip irrigation system in the sugarbeed production can save water up to 70%-80%. The project objective is to demonstrate and disseminate the experiences of the Kayseri Sugar Beet Cooperative in using drip irrigation for sugar beet production Kayseri Sugar Beet Cooperative is implementing the project. The main stakeholders are sugarbeet producers, technical staff of the Cooperative. Following steps have being taken: - documentary film on drip irrigation have being prepared - 2000 brochures will be pressed and disseminated to stakeholders - two farmers meetings will be held - drip irrigation report will be prepared and disseminated to stakholders - training programme on proper implementation of drip irrigatio will be prepared for technical staff of the Coperative - comparison between drip and sprinkling irrigation system will be made in the aspects of productivity, water and energy consumption etc - drip irrigation system in 1500 dekar have being implemented

Turkey