Bio-diversity

The project aims to revitalise the local agrobiodiversity of the Kirazli Village, which is marked with a species of black cherry, a local olive variety and a grape variety as landraces. There are also several local vegetables varieties slowly disappearing in Turkey, that managed to survive in Kirazli village. Black cherry, pink tomatoes, white gumbo, speckled long watermelon, black long watermelon, chamber bean, bream pea, cowpea, Kad nbudu watermelon These are some of the local agricultural products produced in the Ayd n Kusadas Kirazl village. Through generations, at harvesting time, the most appealing products are selected; their seeds taken and conserved for the next plantation. However, as generations change, the challenge now for the farmers in Kirazl has become survival, in an era and area of increasing reliance on trade seeds of agricultural products and developing tourism. Kirazl Ecological Life Society s president Nihat Firat defines the aim of the project as: Our goal is to continue our existence, where the fruits and vegetables are still local and the village is still a village . The project started in May 2006 receives support from De irmen Farm and the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). The Society is now working towards establishing an organic nursery for local vegetables, as well as towards the high-quality, branded and standardized production, processing and packaging of local fruits. The brandname that has been chosen by the villagers is K PL CE , which is the former name of the village.

Turkey