Turkey

German-Turkish union co-operation to strengthen women and young skilled workers in agricultural cooperatives in Turkey

The agricultural structure in Turkey is dominated by family farms. It is characterised by small, highly parcelled land, whose competitiveness, despite high subsidies, is low by European standards. Cooperatives are regarded as an essential organisational model to strengthen the competitiveness of these small enterprises and to promote the necessary modernisation and market adjustment. Women play an important role, not only in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products. In the families, they also take on the organisation and administration of the households and thus contribute to economic stability, for whom agriculture is often the only source of income.

Promoting equal participation by empowering women in agricultural cooperatives is crucial to realise the full potential of the agricultural sector in Turkey and to promote the sustainable development of rural areas. Despite the central role that women play in Turkish agriculture, there are still far-reaching challenges for their equality and equal opportunities. Women have less access to training and advice than men and are also underrepresented in management and specialist functions in agricultural cooperatives. The increased promotion of young (female) skilled labour in rural areas can, among other things, counteract the acute rural exodus. By organising themselves in cooperatives, women and young skilled workers can participate more in value creation in agriculture and generate additional income.

The union cooperation project, which started in January 2024, aims to empower women and young skilled workers in agricultural cooperatives and their association structures. In this way, the project contributes to the equal participation of women and young professionals in the further development of sustainable agriculture, food security and the improvement of living conditions in rural regions of Turkey.

The project has a duration of three years (2024 – 2026). It is financed by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the Bilateral Cooperation Programme.